The Giger MD and me
One of our members, Ian Whittaker, talks about his innovative fundraising idea
I’ve been going to Benfleet Physiotherapy twice a week for the past six months to “pedal” the Giger MD, a machine designed to stimulate the mind and body of patients with neurological disorders.
Thanks to the amazing fundraising efforts of Andrew Hulkes, an Essex man with MSA, Head Physio Nigel Kimpton installed the Giger MD at the Benfleet practice so that individuals living locally with MSA could use the machine for free, in other words people like me.
I was diagnosed with MSA in X and I decided I wanted to put something back into the system and help raise awareness about the disease and funds for the Trust.
The London Marathon was fast approaching and I knew that the winning athletes would be crossing the line in a shade over two hours so I decided that in the week of the marathon I would ride the Giger MD for two hours. I downloaded the sponsor forms from the Trust’s website and optimistically filled in a target figure of £500. I couldn’t have predicted people’s generosity, most of who had never even heard of MSA, because it wasn’t long before the figure had exceeded £1000.
A couple of weeks before the event I started to increase the session times from the usual 30 minutes to 40-45 minutes in preparation. The night before the event I stocked up on carbohydrates as advised by Matt, the physio who would be overseeing my attempt, then on the morning of 22 April 2015, I set off with the family (including 10 year old grand-daughter Ruby and Daisy the dog) for my challenge.
Arriving at Benfleet Physio there was an air of anticipation, could I really do two hours non-stop and in the process break the record for the longest session on the Giger MD? Nigel and his team were ready and as I lay flat on my back on the bed of the machine while Matt strapped my feet to the pedals, there was only one more thing to do, choose the video that you can watch while you’re pedaling. I had the perfect choice spring to mind, Queen Live at Wembley Stadium, good rock music, an energetic band and at just over two hours long, ideally suited.
So as Freddie Mercury started ramping it up on stage, I started pedalling my socks off on the Giger MD machine. The first 30 minutes were quite easy as I’d done this plenty of times before, but as the timer passed the 45 minute mark I was in unchartered territory. Ruby kept me hydrated via an energy drink with a very long straw but the first couple of times ended up like a face wash rather than a drink. It’s not easy lying flat on your back while drinking through a long straw, but it did maintain the non-stop side of things. As I passed the one hour mark I knew I was over half way but the finishing line still seemed so near yet so far. Freddie was still cavorting around the Wembley stage so I knew I had to keep going just a bit longer.
Next thing I knew, Nigel and the gang were gathered round me and were counting down the last 30 seconds out loud, then a big cheer echoed round the room and I knew I had done it, magic!! It felt fantastic knowing I’d achieved my goal, but I had to be carried to the car. The only thing left to do now is think what I’m going to do next time.
As a direct result of this, my cousin, Peter, is taking part in a half marathon in October in aid of the MSA Trust, and next year my son and daughter-in-law, Shaun & Shani, are doing the same.
It’s like dominoes, what one person does influences someone else and bit by bit we achieve something fantastic together.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the blogs published on these pages are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the MSA Trust.
Hi Ian
I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to know that the work that my dad did to get the Giger MD is touching lives far beyond that which dad had imagined.
Thank you so much for sharing your story.