My Story

I am running the 2024 London Marathon for Brain Research UK!

Brain Research UK is the UK’s leading national funder dedicated to research into neurological conditions. They fund vital research to increase understanding, improve diagnosis and treatment, and work towards the prevention of neurological conditions, to help people who suffer with them live better, longer. Their funding is currently focused on three priority research areas: Brain tumours, Brain and spinal cord injury, and Headache and facial pain. These are areas where there is a large unmet patient need that is not reflected in current funding levels. By concentrating efforts on these three areas, they can have a more significant impact.

I am a right-side stroke.

I have aphasia.

I have 1/2 of a brain.

I have 90% of speech.

I have 3/4 percent of my lung capacity.

That voice box was operation on twice.

This means a had food from a syringe through the stomach.

My career starting in 1996 when I joined Fast Bikes. I become the legend I was thought of. I rode 100's of bikes. Old Kawasaki’s, New Hondas and all points in-between. We went to places far and wide, the world was an oyster to us! I even meet Keith Code! But in 1998 I went to MCN (Motorcycle News) the only weekly newspaper around. The stories were shorter but the was a story per week.

During an attended the California Superbike School in California in 1996. I meet Mr Code and after a period became friends. The next 19 years became my life! Slide bike, No bars bike also the 10,000 riders came to my schools. We have 14-year old's normal rider and racers from BSB, to WSB and to MotoGP. Hell, I trained three for my riders in the world, Rossi and 2 gentlemen have cannot be names. (The Prince’s).

In 2010 I become aware of the small lump in my left-hand side of my neck. Is became bigger. I went to the Doctor, who sent to Northampton, who sent to Oxford. Now I was worried! 

2011 of March, I as in for a routine operation. 1 to 1 1/2 hours with my being semiconscious to say how it feels. Sometimes it was hurting. I told the anaesthesia I was in pain (30 years on Wing Chung training was coming apart.) Again, after a while it was hurt bad. The sound of medical equipment was being moved and I loss consciousness.

10 hours later I was moved to ICU (Intensive Care Unit.) 10 days in spend there. My ex-wife and best friend were told I had a 5% chance of making it.

After 6 months at Oxford and Northampton I was released with no speech and no walking!  I got no hope. I considered suicide, but my ex-wife talked me out of it!

I also the aphasia. These made they has to enter my throat twice. One of Botox. One to cut away to open they windpipe.

During this time, I was a member of the Army. To be precise an SGT in the Army Cadet Force. 12- to 18-year-olds. I was to think about a Second Lieutenant but the Stroke prevented that.

We did the London to Paris on a tandem cycle with my Neuro Physio Jon!

Now, I have “walked” to the Marathon des Sables, the toughest foot race on Earth.

Shame it was not the TV, BUT I was. Employable Me Series 2 was.1 hour of BBC 2 after 9 o’clock.

I did the Brighton half-marathon in 4 hours. Twice.

I did the half MDS.

I did the walk across Oxfordshire just usage foot paths.

I am climbing to Everest Base Camp in May 2022. 

Mark Lane superheroseries.co.uk was our leader and I cannot swim, BUT I MADE IT with half a body and half a brain. Andy: 150m swim

_{I keep the coaching with FAB and British Superbike with riders in both classes. True Heroes, Honda Challenge and 400 cup.}