After an exchange of tweets with Sky Sports News presenter Charlie Webster about why I was running the London Marathon for my sister despite my dodgy knees, I received a phone call from Sky Sports asking if they could feature my story on the Special Report!

Not one comfortable at the thought of being followed around by a TV crew, I nervously said yes knowing this was a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of lupus around the world!

On the 22nd January the Sky Sports News film crews arrived in Hednesford to film the 1st of my sessions. With several cameras and lighting equipment, my lounge was quickly transformed into an interview studio. Once we had completed the interview, it was time to capture my training so, moving first into the street, which brought great interest from my neighbours, we moved on to Pye Green Valley to film my 4 mile training run.

The Sky cameras will be back in Hednesford along with Charlie over the coming weeks to capture my progress.

I will be keeping a video log and posting a blog on the Sky Sports website with the Special Report going out on Sky Sports News on Monday 16th April.

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Here is my British Cycling member profile….

John Hibbs is new to cycling but has taken to it like the proverbial duck to water. Now he’s using it to do himself good – and raise money for a great cause as well.

“I was looking for something new this summer, after twice running the London Marathon,” says John. “With my ‘dodgy’ knees I thought cycling would be a good idea. It’s been great for my wellbeing and it’s really enjoyable. I wish I’d discovered it years ago!”

Since 2008 when his sister Viki was diagnosed with lupus, he’s been doing lots of different things to support her and raise awareness – including founding The Hibbs Lupus Trust to help support lupus patients and their families. And when he discovered that the only two street names with ‘lupus’ in them were 200 miles apart, John knew that would be his first cycling challenge! In June 2012 he’ll be joined by friends Craig Moore and Simon Orme to ride the 200 miles from Lupus Way in Ellesmere Port to Lupus Street, London.

“I’m lucky that Craig has signed up to join me on the cycle challenge,” says John. “We’re both new to road cycling so have been helping each other. It’s been really good to have someone to cycle with. We’ve been out at every opportunity over the summer and we’re now preparing for a long hard winter of training. I’ve just picked up a turbo trainer from Wiggle to ensure that I can still train when the snow and ice arrives!”

John says his British Cycling membership brings lots of valuable benefits. “The discount at Wiggle has been a great benefit to me as a new cyclist needing to purchase lots of kit and accessories, but I’m also comforted in the knowledge that membership offers insurance and legal advice! The weekly email I get is packed full of top tips and information. I’d fully recommend anyone who is cycling or thinking about starting to join British Cycling!”

Find out more about the benfits of British Cycling membership. 

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http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/cover-Benlysta/

Target: Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive, National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), UK
Sponsored by: Worldwide Lupus Patient Organizations
Benlysta(R) is the first treatment developed specifically for lupus since the disease was identified in the mid-1800′s. This treatment represents a ray of hope that new safe, effective and tolerable treatments can be developed for the more than five million people around the world living with lupus.

The United Kingdom’s (UK) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently released its preliminary recommendation to NOT cover the cost of Benlysta(R) through the National Health Service. Their preliminary recommendation could have a devastating international impact on the survival of this important new treatment, and it may have a chilling effect on the future development of new lupus drugs thereby denying physicians and patients appropriate treatment options. 

Join us in our call to action by urging NICE to recommend that the United Kingdom’s National Health Service provide coverage of Benlysta(R).

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We started fundraising back in late 2009 and have enjoyed many fantastic events raising funds and awareness.

I am overwhelmed at the support we have received since we started fundraising and extremely grateful for every single donation. I know that every single penny will make a difference to lupus patients!

Our new fundraising total is £15,065.69

Thank you for your support!

Team Hibbsy

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Here is a taste of what I had to say….

Sporting background… When I left school, I gained a placement on a youth training scheme with Crewe Alexandra Football Club. A keen sportsman, I had played cricket at county level and travelled around the UK playing football at with Crewe Alexandra reserves.

At 18, I was diagnosed with arthritis and as a result I had to stop playing the game I loved. A few years ago I began scouting for a number of teams including Blackburn and Liverpool football club. Last year I decided that I needed to channel my energies into my fund raising and stopped scouting.

Time in running… I began running in the summer of 2009 after a gaining a place to run the 2010 London Marathon.

Reason you started… In 2008, my sister was diagnosed with the incurable disease lupus after a nasty few months of illness. I watched as her physical health deteriorated and I decided that I should do something to show my support of her and the charity that has since helped us discover more about lupus. I set about running small distances in the light of my own health limitations but soon set myself the challenge of running the London marathon 2010.

You can read my full interview and also many other great articles here – www.ryding2health.co.uk

Thank you to Melanie at R2H for helping me raise awareness of lupus!


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My nomination will now be assessed and I should know in December if I will be carrying the Olympic Torch!

I would like to thank everyone for their nominations, continued support and sponsorship!

Keep your fingers crossed!

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On Saturday 16th June 2012 I will be cycling 200 miles

from Lupus Way, Ellesmere Port to Lupus Street, London.

View Route

I am looking for more companies to get involved with my cycle challenge. If you would like to offer your support please get in touch.

Thank you to the above companies who are supporting me on this challenge.

Please visit their websites to find out more about their products and services.

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Monday 17th October 2011 – Bloxwich Golf Club

Organised by the Great Western Golf Society

Only £30 per player to play one of the region’s most prestigious golf courses!

22 Teams of 4 – shotgun start 11am

£16.50 per person will go towards Bloxwich for the hire of the course and a post round buffet. The remaining £13.50 per person will go to the West Midlands Lupus Group.

There will be an auction and raffle with prizes awarded throughout the day; all of the monies raised from these will go to the West Midlands Lupus Group.

To register simply complete this Registration Form

If you can provide items for the raffle or auction, please contact me.

Bloxwich Golf Club where you can enjoy a club with the best of both worlds – the peace and tranquillity of a rural club yet with an easily accessible location.

Leave our first tee and you will be transported into the heart of arable Staffordshire countryside on our undulating semi-parkland course. You will find it hard to believe you are but a few miles from the M6 and adjacent to the A34 when the only noises you hear are songbirds in summer and the occasional tractor.

Situated on the northern edge of the Black Country, Bloxwich Golf Club is a well-established members’ club founded in 1923. Offering excellent facilities and traditions you would expect from one of the premier clubs in the area.

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The symptoms are many and varied, and the condition often seems to mimic other diseases. This gives rise to difficulty in diagnosis and the condition can be overlooked for years, unless the GP or consultant is alert to the possibility of LUPUS.

Symptoms can include; extreme fatigue, eye problems, joint/muscle pain, depression, miscarriage, hair loss, anaemia, facial and other rashes as well as the possible involvement of kidneys, heart, lungs or brain.

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Previously known as the Birmingham Half Marathon, this event now joins the Bupa Great Run series, the biggest mass participation running events in the World!

So on Sunday 23rd October 2011, I’ll be joining 15,000 runners as I again run to support my sister and raise awareness of lupus.

Entry is still open via www.greatrun.org.

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