Round The World Cycling Record in aid of Parkinson’s Disease Research.

                                           James Bowthorpe, a volunteer member of the “What’s Driving Parkinson’s” research team at Kings College Hospital London, is on schedule to beat the world time record of 194 days for cycling solo around the world. He says,   “Breaking the record is important to me because the speed and endurance of my challenge directly reflects the urgency of proper funding for the research charity currently undertaking groundbreaking medical research (on PD) on a shoestring budget. It’s thoughts like these that keep me going, not the idea of a medal at the end…”  James has covered over 14,000 miles in 4.5 months, and has 4,000 miles to do. He has survived an attack in Iran, the loss of 2 stone due to a stomach bug in India, and dodged missiles in Australia. He was laid up for 5 days in India due to the stomach bug, making his target of 120 miles per day, equivalent to cycling from Bristol to London,   for 5 months, even harder to achieve.   So far he has cycled through Europe, Iran, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada, and is currently crossing America.    James has previously done voluntary work in Bosnia.   You can track his remaining ride   about the research that has inspired him:- What’s Driving Parkinson’s?’ is headed by Drs John and Sylvia Dobbs, who have developed a unique approach to the disease over more than ten years, on a shoestring budget. It is based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, in association with The Maudsley and King’s College Hospitals. It is funded through the Psychiatry Research Trust. The Research Programme is about modifying the progression of Parkinson’s Disease, by homing in on ‘What’s Driving Parkinson’s?’ With the necessary funding, key questions, aimed at altering clinical practice, are scheduled to be answered within 5 years. This is work with people with Parkinson’s, for people with Parkinson’s. It is routed in clinical observation, not in laboratory experiments that may or may not prove relevant. Indeed, the estimated time scale for the latter, laboratory   to clinic approach, is 2- to 3-times greater. James has seen first-hand the improvements in patients, which motivated him to cycle 18,000 miles to raise the required funds.   Monies raised from James’s trip will go to fund this groundbreaking programme. He is due to arrive home in less than a month now. Please help him to reach his target for globecycle of £1.8 million, by donating;-     A change in approach is desperately needed: together, we can make it happen. I say this as someone with 18 years living with Parkinson’s. Two years ago, I tracked down this team that I am now a volunteer member of. T hank you Ron Hutton What’s Driving Parkinson’s Research Team. Post Edited By Moderator (yekkimo) : 8/20/2009 6:07:40 PM (GMT-6)

Hi in response I attend Drs John and Sylvia Dobbs clinic along with my Husband, although initially sceptic we,have now been attending for 8 years the results we have seen have been amazing especially when as already stated they operate on a shoe string budget.We thank God every day that we found there clinic, through which we got to know James and his incredible effort I would encourage everyone to log onto his globecycle web site and indeed "whats driving parkinsons " to read why he felt inspired to do this journey , Patients Diaries, and if at all possible to donate