A charity boss from Ayrshire whose brother has Motor Neurone Disease (MND), is urging keen cyclists to join him on an epic fundraiser.
MND Scotland Chairman, Adrian Murphy, is preparing to take on the 205-mile, Chase the Sun UK North Ride event on Saturday, June 24.
And he’s hoping that a few eager cyclists sign up to join him on his mammoth challenge.
Adrian is from Ayr and has embarked on several charity fundraisers since his older brother Brian was diagnosed with MND in February 2019.
As part of his own ‘Monster Challenge’, Adrian raised more than £75,000 for MND Scotland last year by taking on five gruelling events.
The events included; a 7-day Monster Triathlon that involved a 5km swim in Loch Ness, followed by 1,000km of cycling across five days, finally culminating with an ultra-marathon (50km) along the Thames in London.
Now, Adrian is on a mission to raise even more money that will help to support people like his brother, Brian.
Adrian said: “Following the success of my Monster Challenge last year, I decided to keep up with triathlon training for my own health and fitness rather than ask people for more money. That was until Brian’s battle earlier this year with illness alongside his MND inspired me to find my next challenge.”
MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. This may cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe unaided. There are no effective treatments for MND, which is why fundraising events are so vital to driving research for a cure.
Adrian continued: “I knew it had to be something that could come close to matching last year and mean something to me. With Chase the Sun consisting of over 200 miles of cycling, setting off at sunrise in Northumberland on the east at 4:16am, I knew this would without a doubt be a challenge, but the fact the ride finishes at 10pm, outside our old family home on the seafront in Ayr told me that this was the right event for me.
“This year I am inviting any keen cyclists to join team MND Scotland and help me to make time count by finishing the race by sunset while raising money and awareness of the great work MND Scotland does in supporting people and their families that have been affected by this terrible disease.”
Although described by the event organisers as a tough, physical and mental challenge, Chase the Sun is achievable for an average committed cyclist and MND Scotland is offering limited ‘Just Ride’ charity places to those looking to ride as part of Team MND Scotland and make a difference to the lives of people affected by MND.
Adrian added: “If you are up for the challenge and want to make a difference in the lives of people living with MND, then I would love for you to sign up and join me and the MND Scotland team at this year’s Chase the Sun.”
MND Scotland’s CEO, Rachel Maitland said: “After already doing so much for MND Scotland, both as chairman of the board and as a fundraiser, we cannot thank Adrian enough for once again stepping up and taking on another gruelling challenge to support people affected by MND and the work of MND Scotland.”
Join Adrian at Chase the Sun by registering for one of MND Scotland’s limited ‘Just Ride’ charity places here. For more ways to support people affected by MND, visit here.
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