Daniel Fenner, 46, is cycling 1000 km indoors from his home in Leeds to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Care Virtual Cycle Challenge.
Daniel started the challenge on 1st June and is aiming to complete it within three weeks. He is raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Care’s COVID-19 hardship grants. Daniel, who has Cystic Fibrosis, also suffers from Cystic Fibrosis related arthritis and needs to complete three hours of massage and stretching most days before getting on his bike.
He was diagnosed as a baby by his mum, who was a nurse, and he started attending the Cystic Fibrosis Unit at St James when he was just 12 years old. Daniel is married to Lisa, a key worker, who works as an occupational therapist in palliative care and disability.
Daniel is shielding at home due to the pandemic and wanted to do something to help improve his mental health. He now cycles 145-160 miles per week connecting with Cystic Fibrosis sufferers from around the world via the Strava and Zwift Apps. There are 33 riders in his cycling group from Switzerland, USA, Canada and South Africa.
Daniel said: “It’s a great way to make friends with fellow Cystic Fibrosis sufferers and I urge people who may be feeling isolated and lonely to join our friendly virtual group by searching R4CF on Zwift.”
Daniel’s indoor Zwift road bike replicates real world conditions and is connected to a computer screen which shows motivational outdoor visuals.
The Cystic Fibrosis Care Virtual Cycle Challenge raising money for COVID-19 hardship grants takes place throughout June. Participants are asked to set their challenge and work individually, with a club, team or family.
Patricia Kilpatrick, Director of Cystic Fibrosis Care said: “We can’t thank Daniel enough for raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Care. Our COVID-19 hardship grants have been a lifeline for patients. Since the start of the pandemic we have provided support to patients for anything from purchasing a new fridge to help keep medications chilled, to providing emergency and immediate funds to Cystic Fibrosis sufferers to cover a delay in payments of benefits or furlough monies.”
Patricia added: “Most recently, we provided emotional support for a 13-year-old boy who was not coping with lockdown and who was not eating properly, missing his friends and in poor health. We funded an approved child psychologist to provide therapy for 10 sessions and offered a grant to cover the costs of a specialist child psychologist. We have also covered travel costs for patients who have to make long and regular round trips to hospital and funded special re-usable anti-bacterial masks.”
She said: “You can complete the Cystic Fibrosis Virtual Cycling Challenge in one day, one week or across the month of June. It’s the taking part that counts.”
To sign up go to Cystic Fibrosis Virtual Cycle Challenge go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/CFCareCycleChallenge #Cycle4CF