My Miles for MS motivation


18 March 2022

Andrew

Andrew Green has always enjoyed cycling. Despite being diagnosed with MS in 2014, last year he chose to cycle 1000 miles in the month of May to support Miles for MS. In this blog he tells us what inspired him to go those extra miles.

Due to the nature of MS, you do not know what will happen.  It makes you value what you can do and it makes you want to make the most of every day.

Andrew

My interest in cycling predates my becoming ill in 2014 and subsequently being diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in 2015. It was and continues to be an activity I enjoy, which gives me the opportunity of getting out into the countryside and experiencing the beauty of nature and the seasons. It is also an excellent opportunity to indulge my other hobby, photography. Plus, the exercise is beneficial both physically and mentally.

In 2020, I decided to sign up for the Ride London 100 mile cycle event, to raise money for an MS charity. This was a daunting prospect as I had never cycled that distance before. The Covid pandemic then hit the world and I had to take a very low profile, as I'm on the Government shielding list due to my very low immunity caused by my MS medication. To combat my anxiety about the virus and my loss of income, I focused on my physical wellbeing. I did a lot of walking and used my rowing machine, I then picked up my cycling again when the Covid situation began to ease. Of course, the Ride London 100 mile event did not take place and I did not get to raise the money I had intended, so I still had unfinished business!

The Ride London 100mile event did not take place and I did not raise the money I had intended, so I still had unfinished business!

This year the Lincolnshire Rural Support Group, a charity which supports the Lincolnshire rural and farming communities launched #MadMayMarathon to raise awareness of the charity and the benefits of getting out and exercising, challenging people to walk, run or cycle the distance of a marathon during the month of May. It was at this point that I set myself my own physical and mental challenge, to cycle the equivalent of a marathon a day throughout May. This meant cycling 813 miles (1,309 km). At this point in time, this was my challenge to myself. I had a lot of personal pressures and I did not know if I would be able to be able to do it but I set about it and made good progress in the first part of May. I began to feel that I might be able to complete the challenge that I’d set myself and my thoughts turned to how to benefit the causes I support. It was then that I first saw the MS Trust #MilesForMS. I signed up. The combination of raising awareness for these two charities, along with funds by way of sponsorship was the force that I needed to keep me going.  

As beautiful, hot and sunny May of 2020 was, May 2021 was wet, cold and windy, which definitely made the challenge that bit more challenging! I managed to complete my initial cycling target with a week to spare and decided to keep going, aiming for the equivalent of cycling the distance between Land’s end and John O’Groats, 875 miles (1,407km), which I duly completed. Then on the Friday evening of 28 May, after a couple of beers, I realised that if I worked hard I could reach 1000 miles. The next day, I cycled 100 miles, something I’d never done before. I completed the challenge the following day. My total distance cycled in May 2021 was 1012.5 miles (1,629.5km), which involved 67 hours and 50 minutes of cycling and climbing 6188m. The weather on the last two days was beautiful and a perfect way to finish!

I chose to fundraise for the MS Trust because of those, including myself, who have MS, along with their families. I chose #milesforMS because it encourages you to partake in exercise to reach your own particular goal, whatever that is, with all the physical and mental benefits that exercise brings. 

What was hard?

Not knowing if I could do it and the not too pleasant weather. At least a cycling helmet protects you from hail stones!

What did I love?  

Exploring new parts of Lincolnshire and beyond, seeing the wildlife, nature, the countryside and a few friends on my travels. I enjoyed getting stronger as the month went on and the fundraising that went with it. 

Due to the nature of MS, you do not know what will happen. It makes you value what you can do and it makes you want to make the most of every day. Carpe Diem! Seize the Day!

Keep going, every individual’s challenge is their own mountain to climb.

Sign up

Join Andrew and our other Miles for MS stars by taking on your own challenge. Register for Miles for MS today and you will receive your very own MS Trust t-shirt when you start your fundraising.