Cycling For Muscle-Wasting Condition

Four cyclists are limbering up for a gruelling journey spanning 400 miles to raise money to develop treatments for Duchenne muscular distrophy.

The team from Conference Care will leave Dunfermline today to cycle to their HQ in Coventry. £8, 500 has already been raised so far, and a target of £10, 000 has been set.

Pauline Beattie is cycling for a family friend who's son, Harry Barnley suffers from the condition. The team also consists of Chris Peacock & Andrew Deakin, Conference Care’s founding Directors and Sean Henderson, New Business Manager Scotland.

Harry, who lives in Aldershot, Hampshire, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2013, aged just five years old. The condition causes muscles to weaken and waste, leading to increasing disability. It not only affects muscles needed for movement, but also heart and vital breathing muscles, cutting lives short.
 
Pauline said: “I was chatting with Chris, Andrew and Sean about charity fundraising challenges, when Chris came up with the idea to ride between Conference Care’s offices to help a good cause. I said if we did it to help Harry, I knew I would manage the distance. Duchenne is a heart-breaking condition and because it is so rare, people don’t know much about it. It feels like a treatment is within touching distance, but it is only by raising awareness and keeping the research going that we are going to get there.”
 
Sue Barnley tells how despite the friends now living hundreds of miles apart, Pauline and husband Mark have been an incredible support to her family. She said: “Harry is a happy, cheeky boy, who loves football and playing with his brother Jack. Our world fell apart when we found out he had Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Without any treatment, he is likely to be using a wheelchair by the time he is 10, he will go on to lose the use of his upper body, and eventually his heart will be affected. Promising research into treatments is underway. We simply have to make sure the funding is there for this work.
 
“It’s amazing that Pauline has gained the tremendous support of the company she work’s for and the Director’s themselves have committed so much time and personal funds into this awesome challenge. Pauline has been such a big support over the years, despite living so far away. We just can’t thank her, Chris, Andrew and Sean enough for what they are doing.”

To donate, log on to www.justgiving.com/ConferenceCareHelp4Harry