A hospital consultant, her wife and her best friend are embarking on a massive challenge to cycle more than 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.
Dr Jacquelyn Smithson, a Consultant in Gastroenterology at Hull Royal Infirmary, is undertaking the gruelling adventure with her wife Sarah Jones and her best friend Adrian.
The LEJoG 25 team have chosen a route which takes in The Lizard, the most southerly point of mainland England, and Dunnet Head, the most northernly point of mainland Scotland, and they aim to complete the task by September 24.
Dr Smithson, who has MS and uses a wheelchair much of the time after a relapse four years ago, will use a special three-wheeled trike throughout the epic journey.
She said: “The three of us are setting out to raise money for research into Multiple Sclerosis. We’ve raised £5,000 already and we’ve been blown away by the generosity and good wishes of so many people who have supported us.
“Every penny we raise will go directly to the MS Society. No amount is too small. But please, if you can, give generously.”
Dr Smithson is a well-loved and highly respected member of staff at Humber Health Partnership, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary, Castle Hill Hospital, Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, Goole Hospital and Scunthorpe General Hospital.
During the pandemic in 2021, she experienced a relapse which left her with no feeling in her legs and unable to walk. However, she undertook months and months of physiotherapy to try to regain some movement.
Sarah said: “She wasn’t willing to sit back and accept her fate so she worked at recovery over months and months, during the added challenge of Covid-19.
“After what seemed like an endless journey of physiotherapy and incremental gains, the feeling has still not come back. But Jacquie has been lucky enough to see enough improvement to able to walk short distances with the aid of crutches and has started to rebuild some muscle, just enough, in fact, to turn the wheels of a bike!
“Although she can no longer cycle a two-wheeler, we have found that a trike is possible.”
The three cyclists will be updating their progress throughout September on social media and you can make a donation to the MS Society through their JustGiving page.
