Ten islands in ten days
Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Mull, Iona, Ulva and Lismore are just some of the islands forming part of a cycle challenge to raise awareness and support for people living with motor neuron disease.
From Thursday June 8, MND Scotland trustee Professor Scott Bryson will be attempting to cycle 500 miles across 10 Scottish islands in 10 days - involving 22 ferry journeys.
Scott, who is originally from Dunoon, joined MND Scotland’s board of trustees in 2018, as well as becoming the chairperson of the charity’s research committee in 2021.
MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. This can cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, swallow or breathe unaided, and the average life expectancy is just 18 months from diagnosis.
Scott said: “I want to use this challenge as an opportunity to raise money to make a difference in the lives of people with MND and help to continue the amazing work done by MND Scotland.
“I hope in the process that I might be able to connect with patients and carers who have some association to MND Scotland and to raise awareness by meeting some people on the islands who otherwise wouldn’t have a direct connection to the charity.”
He added: “In June, I’m hoping for good weather and a reliable ferry system, but I’ll have to be ready to quickly adapt to change.
As long as nothing disastrous happens to me or my bike along the way, I’m confident that I’ll be able to make it across. On most of the sections I’ll have a companion to help me along.”
MND Scotland is a key funder of MNDSMART, now the UK’s biggest MND clinical drug trial, which uses novel methods of investigation to find medicines that can slow, stop, or reverse the progression of MND.
You can support Scott’s 10x10 cycling challenge by visiting here: mndscotland.org. uk/events/.