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A team of cyclists will ride over 200 miles this week to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH).
The nine core riders of Team PHenomenal Hope UK and Ireland will ride from 23rd to 26th October and will be joined by a mix of day riders along the way.
The team comprises of healthcare professionals from PH specialist centres in the UK and Ireland, representatives from the two patient advocacy groups PHA UK and PHA Ireland, and staff from Actelion UK and Ireland.
Professor Sean Gaine, PHA Ireland representative, said: “This cycle ride is a great opportunity to join forces with colleagues and friends in the UK to raise awareness about PH.
“Cycling from the head office of PHA UK in Sheffield to London while meeting with patients and families along the way is a very special way to raise that awareness.
“For people living with PH, this endurance cycle would be impossible.
“PH can’t be cured, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve prognosis and quality of life, which is why raising awareness of the disease is so important.”
Robin Bhattacherjee, general manager of Actelion UK and Ireland, said: “By working with the wider PH community through an event like the Team PHenomenal Hope ride during UK PH Awareness Week, our aim is to raise awareness of this devastating, rare and life-limiting disease.
“As an organisation we are committed to addressing the unmet needs of people with PH and this means where possible reducing the time to diagnosis and ensuring access to the full range of available therapies.
“I am sure the riding part of this challenge will be hard, but not half as hard as living each day with PH, I know this will motivate me and my fellow cyclists when the going gets tough and I feel privileged to be part of the group.”
UK PH Awareness Week is from 22nd to 28th October.
