Chiswick Resident Marking 60th Birthday With Charity Bike Ride

Daniel Jones will cycle for one hundred miles for Arthritis Research

Chiswick resident Daniel Jones is gearing up to cycle 100-miles in the Prudential RideLondon, on Sunday 30th July. Daniel, who turns 60 this year, is taking on his first-ever charity bike ride to raise funds for Arthritis Research UK, after his eldest child, Iso, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2011.

At the age of 15, Iso began to experience pain and stiffness in the ankles, knees and wrists, which was later diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that affects over 400,000 people in the UK and causes inflammation in multiple joints across the body.

Daniel, Iso’s father, said: “For three and a half years, Iso was bed-bound and for the first 18-months the condition went undiagnosed. The condition has meant years of constant pain, medication and lost opportunities.

“Despite the everyday pain, Iso was successful at school and was awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Florida last year. However, Iso was forced to return home earlier this year before completing the first year, due to the immense pain and fatigue caused by the rheumatoid arthritis and associated fibromyalgia.”

Daniel adds: “The hardest part of being a parent is watching your child endure so much pain and feeling so helpless. By taking part in RideLondon and raising money for Arthritis Research UK, I hope that Iso, and others who are living with the everyday pain of arthritis, can have access to better treatments, resulting in better outcomes.”

The Prudential RideLondon is a world-class festival of cycling, which begins in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London and takes riders out into Surrey.

In preparation for the event, Daniel has been cycling 20-miles a day, to and from work, and says: “The training has been tough but it has definitely improved my fitness – and I’ve lost more than a stone in weight. I’m so proud to be able to raise money for such a great cause and I have set myself a target of £1,000, which I’m hoping to reach before the event.”

Louise Skinner, head of events and community fundraising at Arthritis Research UK, said: “We are delighted that Daniel has chosen to support us at this year’s Prudential RideLondon. It’s a great opportunity to raise awareness of arthritis and the huge impact that it has on people’s lives. On behalf of all the staff at Arthritis Research UK, I would like to wish Daniel the very best of luck and I look forward to congratulating him at the finish line.”

If you would like to support Daniel, then visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/daniel-jones

July 23, 2017