Factoids!

After the 300 mile journey each rider will have burned off approximately 31000 calories. That is the equivalent of 520 eggs, 130 chocolate bars or 90 pints of beer.

During the 10 days each cyclist will have completed about 724000 pedal rotations.

Hmmm, should be cycling really....

Note to self

Do not wear converse trainers when cycling in the rain.

No grip - scary!

My Mum's Story

My Mum, Jane just sent me an email of encouragement - she is living proof of recovery from severe nerve damage!

For those who are sceptical of the treatment Oscar is undertaking at The Mind Clinic I would like to tell you a bit of my own story:

Four and a half years ago I had an accident in Spain; I tripped and fell onto the side of a trailer, dislocated and fractured my left shoulder, severely bruising my upper arm and in the process received a Brachial Plexus injury – this is nerve damage in the shoulder which caused me to completely lose the use of my left arm/hand, my wrist hung from the end of my arm with five swollen sausage like fingers at the end. The Brachial Plexus injury was not spotted whilst I was in Spain as after treatment for the dislocation my arm was put in a sling and was told to keep it there for some time. It was not until latter on I realised I could not move my fingers and went to the local A & E on my return to the UK 3 days later and was subsequently referred to see an orthopaedic surgeon.

In the meantime friends rallied round to help; I was taking a variety of homeopathic remedies – Arnica* – Symphytum* – Ruta Grav* - and Hypericum*, and started receiving regular massage and Reiki healing.

The orthopaedic registrar I initially saw was not very helpful/experienced and said I would have to wait months for tests and sent me away with no physiotherapy and not a lot of hope; however fortunately when I returned to A & E again a few days later (because I was so troubled about the state of my hand which was by now ‘clawing’) the consultant at A & E was so concerned about my hand/arm, and appalled at the treatment I had received he sent me back to see the consultant with a letter saying he must see me and not his registrar. On seeing the consultant I was immediately booked in for tests the following morning at Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre, referred to the Institute of Neurology, UCL National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery in London, and sent for physiotherapy and eventually hydrotherapy.

After having all sorts of tests to my nerves and muscles at Hurstwood Park and the Institute of Neurology the prognosis was not good, however about 6 months later, and a lot of hard work mentally and physically, I saw a small twitch in my thumb and very gradually over the last 4 years I have regained nearly full use of my arm, wrist and hand. I have had to think my arm and hand to work again by sending the right messages to encourage the crushed and damaged nerves to start regenerating. I exercised my hand constantly using my right hand to bend and turn my fingers, wrist and elbow.

It is most important to fully participate and take responsibility for your own recovery – no one else can really make you better! Consultants, therapists, homeopaths. Chiropractors etc. all have their place in aiding my recovery; but I believe unless you put the work in yourself and accept as true that you will get better it is unlikely you will recover to the best you of your ability. When my hydrotheraphist said she could no longer help me, I would have to do the rest ‘on land’, she also told me that when we first meet she thought my arm would not recover as the damage was so severe and that I would end up with a flail arm – she said ‘…your determination has made this happen..’

I still have a slightly wasted looking left hand, my fingers do not feel quite ‘normal’ and my touch is affected because the Ulnar nerve has not fully recovered though I can now use, move and bend my fingers almost normally and do the vast majority of things that I want to do. I still exercise my hand daily using a squeegee ball and grip master and attend Aqua Rehabilitation classes 1-3 times a week.

I have recently been discharged by my consultant at Institute of Neurology and told that I have made a ‘miraculous’ recovery; however the consultants and doctors I have spoken to give no credence to the alternative methods of treatment I have used alongside the conventional methods they have prescribed. I feel very strongly that the homeopathy, massage, other healing methods and my attitude of mind have greatly complimented the methods used in my treatment by the NHS. I do not think I would have made such excellent recovery by using conventional methods alone.

It greatly saddens me that most of the neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists I have seen do not accept that using complimentary/alternative forms of healing has led in great part to my ‘miraculous’ recovery.

*Arnica – used for the treatment of bruising, swelling and shock

*Symthytum – amongst it’s common names: Knitbone and Boneset an excellent first aid remedy for broken bones

* Ruta Grav – also used for the treatment of bruising particularly to the covering of the bone (the periosteum)

*Hypericum – used mainly for treating nerve damage caused by injury and shock

Beautiful cycling weather today!

A great day for cycling! Hardly any wind, slightly overcast, so not to hot - and wonderfully not too many people wandering aimlessly in the cycle lane! :o)

Must try and remember that we're going to be cycling in all weathers...really appreciated my waterproof trousers last night on the way home....nothing worse than a wet arse!

Ohh updates from my home page!

Stuff to do this week:
*order high viz vests
*divide the route into manageable chunks for people to plan
*find somewhere safe and dry to keep my bike so it doesn't rot
*raise more sponsorship money!
*sort t-shirt printing (talk to Bex and Taz)
*Talk to the lovely SusTrans again about route planning help

Things I've done (check!)
* emailed the wonderful organic clothing company howies about mentioning us on their blog/facebook etc
* been sponsored ?1 a mile for the ride from my boss (BPR Music) and her husband's company: International Blueprints - MILLIONS OF THANK YOUS!

So - still a long way to go, but stuff is happening!

Blogging

So, I realise for people to read and follow a blog, you actually have to write one.

This seems to have been an issue so far, so here is my first attempt!!

Planning is in full swing! Roti worked out a way to put the sponsor form onto the facebook page, so as many people as want to download it, can help with raising funds! (please shout if I should put it here too!)

Found out this morning that we can get some t-shirts printed for free (as long as we provide the t-shirts) - so I'm going to have a stab at finding a company to sponsor us by paying for the t-shirts in exchange for wearing their logo...

Roti, Bex and I made a massive list of things we're going to need to take with us, which I need to get out to the rest of the team to check what we've already got - there's also a big list of 'things I would like' - which is in danger of becoming ridiculous!

Looking forward to the meeting tomorrow and also test riding a new bike this afternoon!!