The wife of a man struck down with motor neurone disease is taking on a cycle challenge to raise money for vital research into the devastating disease.
Scott Everett, who lives in Stevenage, was diagnosed with MND in March last year and given up to three years to live.
The 47-year-old has progressive bulbar palsy, which affects speech and swallowing before spreading to the rest of his body.
His wife Catherine and their two daughters, six-year-old Anna and three-year-old Evie, have watched the disease slowly rob Scott of his ability to do previously simple tasks.
In a bid to slow progression of the disease, Scott had stem cell treatment in Moscow in September, after a Go Fund Me appeal raised the £30,000 needed to pay the medical bill.
Catherine said: “He responded well to the treatment. There was no decline in his symptoms for a while and it gave us a few months to enjoy doing things as a family. We are so very grateful to everyone who helped us.
“Around Easter he started to slowly decline again and, more recently, every other week there seems to be something else he struggles to do that he once found easy, which is incredibly hard to watch.
“He is starting to have mobility and feeding issues but, despite all this, he has retained his sense of humour and determination, which rubs off on all of us.”
Catherine and a group of friends from the Hitchin Lacrosse Club have signed up to complete the London to Brighton Cycle Ride on September 16 to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Catherine said: “The funds will be put towards research, in the hope stem cell treatment might become more accessible.
“There are trials going on around the world at the moment which are looking promising, but this research costs money.”
The Everett family received a grant from the MND Association to enable them to spend a night away and some family time at a theme park.
Catherine said: “Our girls didn’t stop smiling the whole time, which was lovely to see as they are unfortunately very aware of the changes in Scott.”
Catherine and her friends have been training hard for their cycle challenge, with one team mate still determined to complete the task despite being hit by a car on a training ride.
To sponsor Catherine and the team, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/blue-sky-wheelers.
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