WHEN Droitwich cyclist Ann Bennett embarked on a 300-mile bike ride from London to Paris, defying her MS, she never envisaged her team would raise £27,231.50 for Action Medical Research.
Mum-of-two, grandmother-of-three, Ann, 47, an artist and teacher, was inspired to help raise funds by cycling from London to Paris by brother Matt Williams. He moved back to Worcester following the tragic death of their older brother Andy, who died from Brain Stem Aneurysm in January 2014.
“Andy brought with him all the inspiration I needed to do this ride.
Matt cycled from London to Paris ten times with Team Star and has raised some £150,000 over the decade.
“My memories of us as children are so happy and clear it seemed fitting to do this with him on his tenth ride to remember our big brother,” said Ann.
Coincidentally, Ann had taken up running some 12 months ago.
“My 14-year-old son is severely autistic,” she said. “So for the first five years of his life, we barely left the house.
“In recent years, its become easier, less stressful, so at the age of 47 I decided to look after myself a bit and began running with my dogs everyday.
“I lost two stone and felt tonnes better.”
Ann signed up to the four-day Paris bike mission to form Team Star with 20 other co-members that included Matt and nephew Mark. She was to recieve disheartening news shortly after when she was diagnosed with multiple scelerosis (MS).
“It’s a bit daunting but it’s not cancer and is relatively non-agressive so it just added to the challenge.”
Then to top it off a good friend gave birth to her premature daughter Autumn Rose at 24 weeks and that forged a personal connection to the work that Action Medical Research does – funding vital research for sick and disabled children.
Training for the challenge served several purposes for Ann.
“Primarily, I took it as my time for grieving, the momentum of the cycling carried me through it.
“It became a habit and a therapy.
“I hadn’t been away from my children for 14 years but I didn’t allow myself to think about it.
“This is a worthy cause, not a weekend in Magaluf.
“My focus became the challenge of the ride, I never doubted I could do it, but in the back of my mind was always the fear of an MS relapse.”
“The sense of accomplishment on reaching Paris was enormous but I was felt intensly sad my daughter Rosa couldn’t meet me there. I was of course also thinking about the permanent loss of my brother Andy.
“Anyone who does it will tell you cycling is a great therapy. I guess it’s almost a meditation in motion.”
250 cyclists took part in the 300-mile ride and are set to collect £360,000 to fund medical research to help save and change the lives of sick and disabled babies and children.
Ann is already planning next year’s London to Paris bike ride and hopes to inspire others to both join and sponsor her. For details of her campaign, please visit: www.action.org.uk/sponsor/annb
