Matt hopes to be inspiration for others
A CYCLIST from Sowerby Bridge hopes he will inspire others with Crohn’s disease after pedalling the equivalent height of Mount Everest.
Matt Eames, 32, cycled up Cragg Vale to Blackstone Edge 30 times in May, covering a total of 570 miles, and climbed 41,500 feet.
Matt wanted to raise money for the charity CIRCA, which supports children with Crohn’s disease, which he has himself.
Matt has had Crohn’s since he was eight. Ten years ago he had a sub total colectomy with ileostomy. Prior to the operation he was virtually housebound as he was going to the toilet 20-30 times a day.
”The op changed and saved my life. I wish I had done it earlier,” he said.
“Since my op I’ve accomplished things I never thought my disease would allow me to do.
”I’ve put on weight and muscle, become confident in myself, got and held a job I love for seven years, married the love of my life and bought a house.
”So I thought I’d think big with the challenge to match how big I feel these accomplishments are for me.”
Having been inspired by other fundraisers like Captain Sir Tom Moore, and working out that if he cycled up Cragg Vale 30 times it would be 8850m of vertical height gain, two metres more than Mount Everest, Matt set off on May 1 to ride the hill the longest continual gradient in England - 30 times in 31 days.
Matt has raised £500 so far, but wants to reach £1,000. He added: “I never thought I’d be able to achieve such an endurance based challenge, the fact that I managed it and enjoyed it so much has made me for the second time regret not doing it earlier.
”I think that Crohn’s and colitis can be a mental barrier as well as a physical condition. So if you want to do something but don’t think your disease will allow it, just give it a go. You might be surprised.” To donate, visit https://www.cicra.org/donate/.
I think that Crohn’s and colitis can be a mental barrier as well as a physical condition
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