A Surrey man is taking on a gruelling challenge in a crusade to raise more than £4,500 for charity in memory of his son, Ezra Kensit Sims.

Paul Sims, of Caterham, Surrey, will embark on the cycle ride of a lifetime this month, as he rides from John O’Groats to Land’s End, to raise valuable funds for the Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity (PKD).

The gruelling challenge, which will see over 1,200 miles covered and 45,000ft climbed – double the height of Mount Everest,  follows the tragic passing of Paul’s baby son late last year.

The painful, personal journey for Paul and his partner, Bonnie, started during pregnancy when baby Ezra was diagnosed with having infantile polycystic kidney disease.  A condition faced by Paul and many members of his beloved family – the majority of whom are fortunately currently asymptomatic, is typically not apparent until adulthood and can be well managed subject to the severity of the condition.

What happened to baby Ezra is rare.  The disease was identified in utero, at the couple’s five month scan and was sadly already at a very aggressive stage.  Ezra’s tiny lungs and kidneys were fatally impaired.  A week later at just 21 weeks Bonnie was induced and gave birth to their beautiful angel, who they embraced throughout an emotional blessing.

Now, in memory of his son, 42 year old Paul is preparing to cycle the length of the country to raise essential funds for the charity which has provided him and his family with so much support, PKD.

The charity, established in December 2000 by patients, professionals and members of families affected by polycystic kidney disease, works to raise awareness of the condition and improve the quality of life of those suffering.  The condition is the world’s most common inherited kidney disease, in which fluid-filled cysts, develop, multiply and grow in both kidneys.  Over half of those affected will have kidney failure by the age of 60.

Speaking on the impending challenge, Paul said:  “I’ve lived with polycystic kidney disease from a young age, having seen numerous members of my family affected before being diagnosed with the condition myself in 2001.

“Nothing, however, prepares you for the loss of a child.  It is the first time the condition has affected our family this early in life and it turned our worlds upside down.  The support we received from staff at St. Georges & East Surrey Hospitals and the Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity has been invaluable; it’s important to me to show my appreciation and to support the organisation’s work in any way that I can.”

Joining Paul on the gruelling ride, which will commence on Sunday 11th September at the most Northern tip of Scotland, John O’Groats, is good friend and work colleague, Beau Ormrod, from Manchester.  The determined duo who have already clocked up over 2,000 miles in training rides, will cycle on average 100 miles a day, arriving into Land’s End some two weeks later on Saturday 24th September.  

Barclays Bank, for whom Paul and Beau work, has promised to match funds with the intrepid riders’ sights set firmly on a combined total of £4,500. 

To support them in their charity ride and raise valuable funds for PKD pledge your support here:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Beau-Mark-JOGLE