At the end of this January, my son was taken to A & E at Bangor hospital with a serious back injury which left him without the use of his legs and in great pain. It was initially assumed that it was due to a prolapsed disc, as indicated by the series of scans that he had to go through whilst there. However, it then became apparent, when the results were sent to his consultant based at the Walton Centre, that the root causes were more complex and it was linked to an autoimmune disease, yet to be conclusively identified, but from what we understand, a form of idiopathic myelitis. Fortunately, he was transferred promptly to the Walton Centre, where he was given a series of plasma transfusions to combat the infection that had been attacking his spine. It is only thanks to the promptness of this transferral and the subsequent speedy treatment that he has now begun the road to recovery and has already recovered, to some extent, the use of his legs, although there is some way still to go.

In September 2025 I had already begun a solo gravel-bike ride across Spain and Portugal from the French border to Lisbon. I completed the first stage of 122 miles in 2 days at the end of that month, planning to return in the Spring to resume the route and ride the remaining 872 miles to Lisbon.

Following the events of the past few weeks I have now decided to dedicate the planned Transiberia Gravel ride to raising funds and increasing awareness to the greatest extent I can so that the Walton Centre can further develop resources to combat and increase awareness of the devastating effects of Autoimmune Disease.

The challenge is self-funded and largely unsupported, currently solo, but on the lookout for other participants. It covers just over 1000 miles of mostly untarmacked track, starting at Puigcerda on the French border and due to finish at the Discoverers’ Monument at the end of the last 2 weeks of September.

The Discoverers' Monument seemed appropriate as there is clearly almost as much to discover about Autoimmune Disease as there was about the limits of the known world in the days of Henry the Navigator!

I would welcome any support or interest in this event that might increase public awareness, fundraising as well as practical support, including participation. Please do contact me via the Walton Centre charity website for any further information. william hammond