Michael's Story
Cycling for a Cure: From London to Brighton, For My Dad 💙
In June 2026, We'll be cycling from London to Brighton. Not just for the challenge, but for something much closer to home.
In 2021, my Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, though, looking back, the signs had been creeping in for years. Today, he still lives in the same South London home he was raised in, the one we grew up in too. But life looks very different now. He’s lost significant muscle strength, struggles to walk unaided, and relies on carers three times a day and the enormous help of Mum. On top of that, he faces the daily toll of other brutal symptoms, such as tremors, sleep disturbances, stiffness, memory loss and cognitive changes that chip away at his independence.
But Dad isn’t going down without a fight and neither am I.
That’s why I’ve signed up for this challenge. To ride 55 miles from London to Brighton and raise money that could change the future of Parkinson’s forever.
I’m riding for Dad.
I’m riding for the 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s.
And I’m riding for the hope that one day, families like ours won’t have to watch their loved ones slowly lose mobility, speech and independence.
This fundraiser supports Parkinson’s UK, the leading charity driving groundbreaking research and providing vital support to those affected. Every donation helps fund better treatments, deeper understanding - and one day a cure.
In the past few years alone, Parkinson’s research has taken incredible leaps forward—including the discovery of key biomarkers that could lead to earlier, more accurate diagnosis and more effective treatments. And here’s the kicker: this research doesn’t stop at Parkinson’s. Because neurodegenerative diseases share common pathways, these breakthroughs could also help accelerate progress toward cures for Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia, and more.
We are closer than we’ve ever been.
This isn’t just a ride - it’s a test of endurance.
The route is 55 miles of paved roads from South London to the Brighton seafront, with rolling countryside hills and one notorious climb: Ditchling Beacon. It’s a nearly mile-long ascent with a brutal gradient. Many cyclists end up walking their bikes part of the way. My personal goal? To cycle the whole of Ditchling Beacon without getting off the bike.
Most people take 6-8 hours to finish.
I’m training to complete it in 5.
Here’s how I’m preparing:
• Endurance training with regular rides of 15–30 miles
• Hill work, including South Downs routes
• 3–5 rides per week, mixing long, medium, and recovery sessions
• Cross-training (leg strength + core) to build resilience
• Bike maintenance skills, because if something breaks mid-ride - I need to be able to fix it
Please support this ride if you can. Share. Donate. Cheer me on. Every mile I pedal is powered by your belief that we can do something about this.
Thank you, from my heart - and from our whole family.
Let’s get over the finish line together!
Michael
Thank you to our sponsors
£23
Kia
£23
Jonathan Clark
Good luck you beautiful people 🥳
£23
Sarah Stokes
Good Luck, you’ll both smash it.
£55
Jamie Wright
Great charity. Michael, JP, good luck.
£23
Kirsty
Good Luck Michael. Love from K G and L x
£50
The Thompsons
Good luck Michael - what an amazing thing to do for your incredible Dad! God speed and power to your legs! We're with you! Xxx
£17
Polly Debrunner
Good Luck Michael and team.
£23
Kimble Austin
Good luck!!
£33
Pamela
To The Chuckle Brothers who brighten up my days - well most of the time….Amazing cause. You have got this xxx Love you to bits Pamela xxx
£20
Julie Edwards
Good Luck & enjoy the ride! Julie & the gang xx
£50
Dave Hewitt
Great cause,good luck Michael
£20
Lee Allen
a cause very close to my heart ,well done michael
£55
Carrie-anne Paviour
Good luck brother, and wish you both well on this journey 🚵♂️🚴♀️
£23
Melena Blake
You'll smash the bike ride and the hill! So proud of you for taking on the challenge xx
£55
Christine Paviour
Good luck both, no doubt you’ll do it in 3 hours JP 😊
£75
Nobull
Good luck Michael and JP, dont forget to pack the vaseline - from all your friends at Nobull
£50
Liquid Fleet
Good luck to both of you. All of us at Liquid Fleet are supporting you.
£20
David
Great training program and best of luck on the day!
£33
S. Skliros
Good luck to you both! This is a great cause, well done! Xx
£23
Gordon Cockle
Good luck buddy 👊🏼
£50
Ray Morris
Good luck Michael
£23
Christopher Plumb
Great effort for a great cause.
£23
David Cole
Good luck guys well done on you 👏👏👏
£50
James Trigg
Good luck ! Do I get a refund if you crash/don’t finish?!!!!!!!
£75
Juju, Pipi And Grandma
You will easily do this, that hill will be no problem with your determination. We are super proud of you! Love xxx
£23
Anonymous
£23
Sar Sar
Good luck and worth the pain for such a great cause!!
£23
Anonymous
£12
Chris Porterfield
Well done you hope weather stays kind for you
£6
Jonathan Taylor
The very lovely Jonathan Porterfield highlighted your wonderful fundraising event - happy to donate to a worthwhile cause. Safe riding...
£28
Jonathan Porterfield
Please don't ride with the gavel in hand, Heath & Safety will not be happy ! Seriously both , this is amazing and we're with you from Orkney. Ps maybe the next spondered ride will be up to Orkney ? 😉👍
£25
Karen Houghton
Love from Auntie Liz xx
£100
Katie Godden
Good luck! Proud of you for raising funds for such a worthy cause!
£100
Katie Godden
Good luck! Proud of you for raising funds for such a worthy cause!
£20
Mark And Tony
Michael, this is such a brilliant thing to do for your Dad and for everyone affected by Parkinson’s. Wishing you all the best with the training and the big ride — especially conquering Ditchling Beacon! we'll be cheering you on from afar. 🚴♂️
£50
Michael Simmons
I’m sure you pull me along the way. Don’t forget I’m behind you!
£53
Kate Lewis
I know you will raise lots of money for such a worthy cause and especially for your dad.
£20
Karen
Gracie and I are so proud of you for taking on this challenge for Grandad Jim. We love you lots and promise you a bum rub at the end. (Well Gracie will do it!). Karen and Gracie xxx
£53
Jon-paul Paviour
The First of Many!!!
£27
Joseph Clark
Good luck Michael!
£50
Michael
£50
Sylvia Simmons
We will be with you all the way in our hearts and minds.
£50
Joanne Simmons
Hope you achieve your goals of cycling up Ditchling Beacon without getting off your bike and finishing in 5 hours. I know you’ll do it. Proud of you for taking on this challenge for Dad 💙
£20
Katie Godden
GOOD LUCK! PROUD OF YOU BOTH! SUCH A WONDERFUL THING TO DO FOR A WORTHY CAUSE!
£11
Kristi Bumbova
£22
Lauren Redding
Good luck!! i'm sure you will both be amazing :)
Wishing you good luck and a good health