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Ride for MND with Tommy Zyw

11 August 2022

The Ride for MND team are currently embarking on their High 5 challenge!

You can keep an eye on the live tracking by clicking here.

Please keep the donations coming!

DONATE HERE

The Scottish Gallery Supports!

The Scottish Gallery has supported MND charities since 2019. Motor Neuron Disease is a terminal, degenerative disease that affects 1 in 300 people. There is currently no cure.

In 2018, my twin brother Davy was diagnosed with MND. This was life-shattering news. After a period of reflection, Davy and I decided that there was no point sulking as we would miss the best days of his health. Ride for MND was born out of a desire to live life to the full, seize the moment and turn this devastating situation into a force for good.

After raising more than £150,000 for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation (MNDF) by cycling the North Coast 500 two years ago, we are preparing for our biggest challenge yet.

The Scotland High 5 can be described as the hardest cycle ride in the United Kingdom, tackling 5 of Scotland’s highest roads in one continuous ride, over the course of 260 miles.

We are attempting this challenge to raise vital funds and awareness in the fight against Motor Neuron Disease. Followers of Ride for MND will remember our North Coast 500 cycle in 2020. It has been a busy two years since then, with Davy and I both becoming fathers! Davy’s health continues to deteriorate. With his fingers now unable to operate regular gears as a result of his condition, Davy is able to take on the challenge because of an adapted bike with electric gears.

This challenge is almost unthinkable for a completely fit person, and will be even more demanding for Davy as his body suffers with the effects of MND. Davy’s mentality is to seize the day, live for the moment and fight with every fibre of his being against this disease.

THE ROUTE

The High 5 route starts on the banks of Loch Tay climbing over the shoulder of Ben Lawers, before circling east to tackle the ski roads of Glenshee, The Lecht, and Cairngorm. From Rothiemurcus we start the long road northwest towards Inverness and Achnasheen before tackling the final climb of the Bealach Na Ba, the longest road climb in the United Kingdom at mile 260. Wish us luck!

THE CHARITY

We are fundraising for My Name’5 Doddie, a charity started by Scottish Rugby Legend Doddie Weir who was diagnosed in 2017. His charity is doing amazing work, promoting awareness, funding research for a cure with the MND Association & MND Scotland; including the new MND-SMART drug trails which have recently started. However there is still much to do, and the help currently available for sufferers of MND has changed little in the last 20 years.

Davy, his friends and his family have been huge supporters of the foundation. It’s thanks to incredible people like him that we are able to fund vital research that helps us continue on the road to a world free of this devastating disease.

Davy is an inspiration - I’m not sure people quite appreciate how unbelievable this challenge would be for anyone. Like Doddie, he is giving so much of his precious time to create hope and help raise funds that we hope will one day end MND.

Every pedal pushed, every penny raised will help Davy and others fight their battles and rid the world of this condition. Donate here.

T-Shirts!

The Gallery has a limited number of Ride for MND T-shirts available, featuring original artwork by Kate Downie and Luke Edward Hall. Full proceeds to be donated to Ride for MND. They are available to buy here.

fundraising Festival Fizz Party for Ride for MND! Sat 30th, 1-3pm

The Scottish Gallery team has got right behind the Ride for MND Team and we are having a party before we commence our epic cycling journey in August. There will be music by Commotion, an all-woman Samba band that includes our Front of House, Fiona Hamilton! My brother Davy is a champagne specialist and the party is being kindly sponsored by Berry Bros & Rudd, as well as local companies Stewarts Beer and Bellfield Brewery. My younger brother Sorley works for Obadiah Coffee Roastery and he will be serving coffee to go alongside homemade cakes courtesy of colleagues (Elin, Laura) and family (Jess and Yvie). My mum, Jenny Brown will be offering amazing books at bargain prices courtesy of her literary agency Jenny Brown Associates. Art, music, sport, books, fizz, beer, coffee, cakes, t-shirts and most importantly, people! Everyone’s support is very much appreciated. I hope you are able to come along, meet the team, and say hello!


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