Antony’s all geared up for 4,000-mile charity cycle
RIDE ACROSS USA IN HONOUR OF MUM
A YORKSHIRE man will cycle almost 4,000 miles across the US to raise money for people living with multiple sclerosis.
Antony Butcher, from Ilkley, will start his journey in New York today and travel across 18 states to finish in San Francisco.
The 32-year-old, who works in student support at the University of Leeds, decided to take on the challenge in honour of his mother Teresa, who was diagnosed with MS when he was a teenager.
He told the PA news agency: “I think the harsh reality with MS is that there is nothing you can do to change what is happening.
“When I was 15 years old, I knew what would happen to my mum.
“Over the last 15 years, I’ve seen her mobility stripped, I’ve seen the day that she stopped walking independently, the day that she started living in a wheelchair, the day she had to move into residential care, and when she had to move into nursing care.
“I can’t fix mum but by raising money I can help be a part of making a future where other people don’t have to go through the pain that we’ve gone through.”
Antony will start his journey in Times Square and will climb around 120,000 feet (36,600m) on the ride – which is four times the height of Mount Everest. He hopes to raise more than £20,000 for the MS Society.
He said: “I am aiming to do about 50-70 miles most days, which gives me time to go and visit schools and community groups to talk about the ride.
“It also gives me a chance to share time with the people who are putting me up for a night as hosts.
“I can share my story and why I’m doing this, but also to hear their story.”
Antony took on his first challenge when he was just 17, cycling the length of Britain from Land’s End to John O’Groats and raising £3,000 for the MS Society.
He has been raising money for the charity for almost 20 years but said his new challenge will be “difficult” as he will have to leave his family for three months.
■ To find out more about Antony’s challenge, visit: https://linktr.ee/ AntonyAcrossAmerica.