MS sufferer cycles from London to Paris to raise £6,500 for charity

8:10pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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ONE bike, four days, 327 miles and lots of blisters.

Postal worker Richard Gleadhill is recovering after completing a mammoth test of endurance.

The 41-year-old, who suffers from the debilitating condition multiple sclerosis (MS), is back home after cycling from Greenwich, in London, to the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, in only four days.

His efforts have raised £6,500 for the MS Trust – a charity that provides information, research and support for people living with the disease.

Richard, from Osbaldwick, York, who suffers from symptoms such as chronic fatigue, poor balance and a burning rash, said: “I needed to prove that MS doesn’t have to stop you from doing things and I think I’ve done that.

“It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. We were in absolutely torrential rain for two-and-a-half out of the four days.

“Everybody said beforehand that I’d be fine because Kent didn’t have any hills and neither did Northern France.

“They were wrong. Kent is definitely not flat and northern France is very hilly.

“But I completed it in the four days and out of about 160 riders, I finished in the top 40 every day.”

Richard, who works as a financial analyst for Royal Mail, was the highest fundraiser on the ride for the MS Trust.

He said: “When I set out, I thought I’d be happy to reach £2,000, but this is amazing.

“On the last night in Paris, we were having a celebratory meal and the fundraising officer gave a speech.

“She suddenly picked on me and told everyone that not only was I the highest fundraiser, I actually had MS.

“Everyone in the room stood up and gave me a standing ovation – I thought I was going to cry.”

Richard, who took a week off work to recover, was the only cyclist with MS to complete the ride.

He said: “Six riders didn’t make it and I believe I was the only one with MS to make it to the end.

“I was exhausted when I got to the Eiffel Tower. There were three MS nurses who came with us and they gave me massages at night to keep me going – I don’t think I would have got round without them. I was getting up in the morning and I was still exhausted from the day before. It was really difficult.”

It is still not too late to sponsor Richard – you can donate money to the MS Trust by logging on to www.justgiving.com/richardgleadhill