Joey's Challenge

Joey’s Story 

On Sunday 9th June 2024, I challenged myself to take on The Wicklow 200 – a cycling event that is among the most arduous and most revered annual events on the world cycling calendar. Over the course of 12 hours in the saddle, I cycled 200 km (125 mi) and climbed 3,500m (11,500 ft) in elevation, taking in many of the most iconic climbs in Ireland’s ‘Garden County’. 

A physical and mental challenge like this needs a "why". My "why" was to honour the memory of my dad, Tom, who lived with myasthenia gravis and who died late last year. This is why I chose this challenge. I thought the way my body and muscles would feel after this cycle wound be similar to how my dad's body felt every day... how people living with the disease may feel every day. Few people know about myasthenia gravis, so raising awareness is part in course supporting this community, while raising funds to allow myaware to support this community. 

During the cycle, I learned two things. The first, that the mind doesn’t give the body enough credit for what it can endure. The second, that the body doesn’t give the mind enough credit for what it enables the body to endure. This was the toughest challenge my mind and body has been through. I wondered where my strength came from? I had a photo of my Dad strapped to my handlebars. On reflection, I believe that the strength came from every time I looked down at my handlebars and saw the photo of my Dad. He gave me that extra pedal stroke when I needed it. The photo reminded me of the strength and resilience that he possessed, to learn how to use his body again - how to stand, balance, walk, wash, drink, eat, drive… the list goes on. Tom knew how to do all of these things, but because of his myasthenia, his muscles weren’t receiving these messages from his brain. My muscles, however, were able to receive these messages - whether they liked it or not. My muscles were tired, wanting to give up - but they kept receiving those messages. I was caught in a loop for the 12 hours - I felt the intense struggle, and from gazing at the photo of my dad, my mind ignited, and my body instinctively took control. How many times had I been trapped in this relentless loop? Too many to count. 

The awareness and fundraising campaign for myaware has exceeded all of my hopes and expectations. Many people have said to me over these past few weeks that it is a sign of the person who I am, that people are sharing their knowledge of this disease and giving so generously to the charity. Because of me. But really it is a sign of the person who my Dad was. These people are raising awareness and giving so generously because of him. Because of the kind and caring person that he was. I like to believe that this was my Dad's plan all along. He and my Mum nurtured me and served as role models for living a meaningful life: to love, to care, to be kind, to show respect, to be selfless, and to uphold strong morals. They taught me that what you give to the world will come back to you in abundance. I once read that ‘a society grows great when older men plant trees whose shade they shall never sit in'. My Dad has, in essence, planted a tree through me, under whose shade he will never sit. My greatest hope is to do the same for my own family. 

Míle buíochas ó chroí libh go léir, 

Joey