Cycle Ataxia

What was it?

‘Cycle Ataxia’ was an annual, single day Charity Leisure Cycle. The event offered a wide range of routes to accommodate all levels of ability.  The event was fully catered, marshalled and all routes had medical & mechanical support vehicles.

What is Friedreich's Ataxia?

Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) is a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder. It causes progressive loss of coordination and muscle strength in the arms and legs and trunk, leading to full time use of a wheelchair.  Most young people diagnosed with FA require mobility aids such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair by their teens or early twenties.  Onset of symptoms can vary from childhood to adulthood. Childhood onset of FA usually occurs between 5 and 15 years and tends to have a more rapid progression.

My name is Barry Rice, and in January 2013 I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia. 

I had been suffering from ataxia for years.  My balance and coordination had been deteriorating and my doctors couldn’t explain it.  When I began to have difficulty with my speech in 2012 I was tested for Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA).

When I received my diagnosis I began to research FA.  I learned about the disease and what the future would hold for me.  I read about the research that was being undertaken in the hope of finding a cure or a treatment. 

Although I am unlucky to have this rare degenerative condition, I count myself lucky in many ways.  At the age of 37 I am still high functioning.  I have beautiful young family, and a great support network of extended family & friends.

Although I am becoming increasingly wheelchair reliant, I can still walk short distances (with the help of a wall or a shoulder to lean on).  In the majority of FA cases, sufferers are fully dependent on wheelchairs by the time they reach their 20’s, and in some cases this happens when they are as young as 6 or 7.  Complications such as diabetes and heart disorders reduce life expectancy drastically.

I have decided to use the abilities I still retain to raise awareness of FA, and funds for clinical research & patient care.  Although ‘Cycle Ataxia’ has been a personal project of mine, I could not have put it together without the hard work and support of (too many to list) volunteers and sponsors.  I am eternally grateful to you all.

The Cycle Ataxia Team