Cyclists to pedal for Parkinson’s (From The Oxford Times)

Cyclists to pedal for Parkinson’s

1:00pm Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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TWO Oxford cyclists are pushing themselves to the limit for charity this week, riding the length of the UK in just one week.

Steven Alexander and Dr Rob Hastings set off from John O’Groats on Sunday with 26 riders to raise cash for the What’s Driving Parkinson’s research charity.

They will cycle down to Land’s End, riding up to 120 miles every day.

Mr Alexander, 29, who lives in Oxford with fiancee Sian Long, said he hoped to raise more than £1,000.

He added: “My great aunt spent the last years of her life dealing with Parkinson’s. She ended up in a home unable to speak and struggling to communicate. I was shocked to see how quickly she deteriorated.”

His grandfather was then diagnosed with the disease earlier this year.

Dr Hastings, 32, from Headington, said he had ridden 100 miles a week to prepare.

He added: “I like to set sporting challenges like this every few years, but I’ve never attempted something like this.”