Emily Read
(Left to right) Emily Read with fellow Action for A-T fundraisers Jess Topping and Susannah Upstell
With one of the biggest cycle events in a generation set to take place in Surrey this August, one Haslemere resident tells us how the event could help them in a race to save her daughter’s life
In 2011, Emily Read’s daughter Evie was diagnosed with the rare blood disease Ataxia-Telangiectasia, which can leave sufferers severely disabled.
In response to her diagnoses, Emily and her husband Toby set up the charity Action for A-T with the goal of speeding up the process of identifying a cure for the childhood condition or treatments that delay or prevent the disabling effects of it.
Since the charity’s inception in 2012, around £600,000 has been raised to help combat the condition, however the husband and wife duo feel that it is now time that they start leading by example and have signed up to take part in the first ever Prudential RideLondon - Surrey
“I have walked 100km before,” Emily recalls, “and Toby has done a triathlon and did the London to Cambridge cycle to prepare, but this is the first time I have done anything like this.”
“Because we set up the charity ourselves, we feel we should get involved in things like this, and this seemed perfect because it’s a really exciting event and it is the biggest of its kind.”
Helen knows that the more money they are able to raise for the charity, the more likely it is that Evie and others suffering from AT are likely to survive.
“We are in a race against time to try and find a treatment or cure for this awful condition in order to save our daughter's life.
“She was born 'normal' and seemed pretty much normal up until just before her fifth birthday and has slowly started to deteriorate now.
“She will be seven in August and likely not to survive into her twenties, so anything people can do to raise awareness could be crucial.”
Organisers are aiming to make the Prudential RideLondon - Surrey 100 the largest charity fundraising cycle event in the world, with the route taking place on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside.
Closely following the route of the Olympic road race, the course will feature leg-testing climbs made famous by some of the world’s best cyclists – who will take to the road later that day.
While Emma admits she has some work to do to get ready for the 100 miles, the chance to tread the same path as those who competed at last year’s Olympics was too good to turn down.
“The fact that the route incorporates some of what the riders did at London 2012 is a great idea I think, and was a big reason behind doing it,” she added.
“We actually took the children up to watch the race at the Games which was great, so this is a great opportunity to go and ride it now.”
20,000 riders will tackle the 100-mile route, which starts from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and finishes on The Mall.
Prudential RideLondon takes place on August 3 and 4. If you’re inspired to ride, visit www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk
