James’s Midnight Ride for a Cure
James, Tim and Al's Midnight Ride for a Cure
Pedalling to accelerate progress towards finding a cure for PSC
In the early hours of July 5th, 2024, Oxford resident James and his two friends, Tim and Al, will embark on a unique cycling journey. Starting at 1:30 am from Oxford, they will ride to the Royal Free Hospital in London, retracing the exact timeline of James’s call for a life-saving liver transplant two years ago. The trio aims to arrive by 11:00 am, coinciding with the time James was taken to the operating theatre.
In 2006 at the age of 26, James was diagnosed with the rare auto-immunune disease Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). The disease has no cure or effective treatments, making his successful transplant in July 2022 a beacon of hope during a challenging journey.
"I am one of the lucky ones to have had a successful liver transplant and to now be enjoying life again, but it's been a hard journey to get here," says James. "Thirteen years after being diagnosed with PSC, my liver began to fail in 2019, and it became clear I needed a transplant. By the end of 2021, I was severely fatigued, jaundiced, and itchy. After four months on the waiting list, I received a liver transplant in July 2022."
“This is such a frustratingly unpredictable disease. I am so thankful to be alive and to be free from PSC. The love and gratitude I have for my donor and their grieving family are incredible. I may never meet them but their decisions have given me hope for the future and the chance to see my [three] kids grow up.”
Despite the hurdles, James has triumphed, even medalling at the Transplant Games last year, winning gold in football and squash and bronze in tennis. Next year’s 2025 British Transplant Games hosted in his hometown of Oxford will be another milestone in his inspiring journey.
Keiron Dyer, former West Ham, Newcastle, and England footballer and now part of Chesterfield’s coaching staff, was diagnosed with PSC in 2019 and received a life-saving liver transplant in 2023. Dyer shared his support for James and his friends wishing the trio the best of luck in a short video clip.
This ride is not just a personal tribute but also a fundraising effort for PSC Support, the only UK patient organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by PSC. The charity has committed to funding £1 million in research to establish a pathway towards finding a cure or effective treatment for everyone with PSC by 2030. James, Tim, and Al hope to raise £2,000 for this cause and are already more than halfway to their target.
“I realise the world does not need any more middle aged men in lycra but, if you can spare any money to help a great charity, we would be really grateful!” says James. Support the trio in their mission to raise awareness and funds for PSC by following their journey and donating at James, Tim, and Al Cycle 2024 Fundraising Page.