When we told people that we were going to start a ‘movement’ based on a midnight 'brain dump,' I had in early 2025, they said we should be prepared for a bit of a ride. But we didn’t think it would be quite such a ride that would take us all the way to £28,000. Read on for a summary of 2025’s exploits.
Swiping Right: How I Found a Pal with Parkinson’s
I spent quite a while post-diagnosis with my head in the sand, terrified that meeting another 'Parky' would be a glimpse of a future I wasn't yet prepared for. But after three years of lonely cycling, I decided it was time to find a teammate, so I ‘swiped right’. From neutral-ground coffee summits to gallows humor, here is how I finally found the tribe I never wanted to join.
Sherlock in Lycra: The Case of the Car-Park Face Plant
What happens when your smartphone goes off on a 'solo mission,' and you perform the perfect slow-motion face plant, all while squeezed into a suit of neon Lycra? You get a mystery only Sherlock (in cycling shorts) could solve. Here is how I proved that karma exists—even if my dignity didn’t.
Elite Performers Eat Cake
Here how eating more cake can earn you a personal best and a red nose.
£1000 Down, £9000 to Go (That’s a Lot of Cake)
Reaching 10% of our target before we’ve even launched our first official event is a massive win. It’s a powerful reminder that while Parkinson's and Testicular Cancer are tough opponents, together we can significantly raise awareness of these two conditions and help say ‘balls’ to them both. If we can do this much just by starting the conversation, perhaps that £10,000 target isn't as far away as I first thought?
Help? Sometimes All You Need to Do Is Ask
I’ll admit, I spent a good few minutes pacing outside the door of Majestic Wine, practicing my 'sales' pitch and trying to look like a man who knew exactly what he was doing. It turns out that asking for help is a bit like hill climbing—the anticipation is much harder than the actual pedaling. Thankfully, Freddie Whitelaw was there to prove that sometimes, all you have to do is ask.
Balls to Parkinson’s 