On 7 September, 16 aerospace engineers, with a support team of 4 from engineering and design consultancy Atkins will take to the roads to raise money for the MS charity BrAMS at Frenchay Hospital. Over three days, the cyclists – who hail from Atkins’ Bristol and Amsterdam offices – will ride over 220 miles and 2.5 miles ascent from Land’s End to the BrAMS centre in Bristol.  The team will be arriving in Barnstaple on the 8th (Saturday) around 4.30pm via the A39 then A361. 

The team was inspired to ride for BrAMS by the daughter of one of their colleagues (and fellow cyclist) Jim West. Jim’s daughter Kate is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and last year after a major relapse started receiving treatment from BrAMS.

The unique BrAMS is a centre of excellence which offers new and current treatments, carries out new drug trials and Stem Cell research. The centre has a dedicated team of Neuro Consultants, MS speciality Doctors, Nurses and Physiotherapists. Much of the work there has only been possible because of fundraising and donations from Companies, grant making trusts and individual donations.

BrAMS fundraising Manager Shaun McCarthy, who himself is an MS sufferer said “Jim West and the group of riders from Atkins have worked incredibly hard to make this event a success and everyone at BrAMS are so very grateful for their fantastic offer of help. When people offer to help in this way, they help the team at BrAMS to continue the brilliant treatment, information and research service that it offers to many with MS and so a huge thank you from us all at BrAMS to everyone involved in giving their time in organising and taking part in this great event”

For MS sufferers in Barnstaple and North Devon you can find information about the latest researched MS drugs and research using Stem Cells to repair damaged caused by MS and the new drugs that are being trialed here, please contact BrAMS on 0117 3406490

At North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, Devon, the MS specialist nurse is Carol Turner who can be contacted on 01271 311747 or you can e-mail for information at carol.turner@ndevon.swest.nhs.uk.

North Devon District Hospital - Neurology Department - 01271 311585  is also waiting to offer any information you may require.

For more information about BrAMS, please see the website at www.brams.org.uk or call 0117 3406490 

Please donate today as below.

The team is raising money online at: http://www.justgiving.com/Bike-For-BrAMS.

To raise money for the event, the team has also started ‘samosa Fridays’ at Atkins’ office in Bristol, and will hold a ‘cycle to work’ event on the 31 August.

The members of the Bike for BrAMS team are:

Ben Higham, Andy Mclean, Steve Harold, Jim West, Frazer Clark, Sarah Long, Jesus Panos Tanin, Ralph Brown, Pete Myers, Jon Wines, Eric van Teeseling, Chris Driscoll, Rob Sutton, Akhil Viz, Jon Gittoes and Peter Kromwijk.

The team would like to thank Atkins, Tesco, Glastonbury Spring Water and BrAMS for their support in making this event happen.