International sailor struck down by Motor Neurone Disease completes gruelling charity ride on tramper mobility buggy from Paris To London
Until she was struck down by Motor Neurone Disease (MND) two years ago sailor Jenny Green raced at international level in both Fireball dinghies and International Dragon keelboats. She was a keen sportswoman who enjoyed running, cycling, hill walking, skiing and many other outdoor pursuits. Today, because of the horrific effects of MND, which can strike anyone at any age, she is confined to a wheelchair and facing an imminent death.
MND is a progressive neurodegenerative disease leading to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. Very little is known about what causes the disease and currently there is no known cure so research is absolutely vital.
For Jenny it is too late, but she is a woman of extraordinary generosity, courage and determination and her goal before she dies is to raise as much money as possible for MND Research so that others diagnosed in the future do not have to face the same ghastly prognosis.
She has already completed several challenges, including racing her Dragon in the 2010 Regates Royales in Cannes despite already being confined to a wheelchair. Her latest challenge saw her take on the legendary Paris to London run using an extraordinary mode of transport - her Tramper mobility buggy. The route took her across more than 238 miles of French and English countryside riding on a combination of off-road tracks, cycle routes, country lanes and at times even busy main roads.
Her journey began on Sunday 22 May when she left Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, accompanied by her sons Mark and Bobby on their bikes and her husband Malcolm driving the support truck. On reaching the English coast she was joined by further friends and family including daughter Nicky, grandchildren Sophie (8) and Tom (13) and close family friend Toby (7) who rode alongside her all the way to London. Jenny spent up to nine hours each day in her buggy having to cope with heat, sunburn, cold, rain, gale force winds, extreme physical discomfort and exhaustion. The only things that kept her going at times were her indomitable spirit and the constant encouragement of her support team.
An elated and emotional Jenny completed her challenge at noon on Monday 30 May and was met on her Cutty Sark finishing line by more friends, family and members of the public.
Speaking at the finish Jenny said "We need to get this research going, because MND is a horrible, horrible disease. It takes away everything in the end except your ability to understand what a terrifying thing is happening to you. Anyone can get it, at any time, which is the scary thing. Currently even being diagnosed is a process of elimination of all else because so little is understood about it. There is neither treatment nor cure and all that can be done for victims is to try and alleviate our symptoms as much as possible. I don't want anyone else to have to go through what I and my family and friends are going through now. Please, please, please donate to MND research and help me feel that this trip has made a difference to the lives of future MND victims."
To donate to Jenny's fund for Motor Neurone Disease research please visit the Virgin Money Giving website. It is important to note that Jenny and her team undertake these challenges on an entirely voluntary and self funding basis so all donations go direct to the charity.
To find out more about Jenny's extraordinary Paris to London Challenge please visitwww.jennygreenchallenge.org and to read her personal record of the challenge visit her Blog. For additional information and photographs please contact Fiona Brown on e-mail [email protected] or tel +44 (0)7711 718470.
For more information about Motor Neurone Disease visit www.mndassociation.org
Follow Jenny on Facebook and Twitter.
