A father from Ripon in North Yorkshire has raised over £2,300 for the Leeds-based charity Epilepsy Action after completing a gruelling cycling challenge. Mark Mayatt-Simmons, 40, took on the ride from Land's End to John O'Groats alongside his friend Tom, aiming to raise awareness of epilepsy, a condition that affects his 10-year-old daughter Alia.
Personal Motivation
Mark explained that Alia had her first sudden seizure at age four. Initially reassured it might be a one-off, further seizures and EEGs led to an epilepsy diagnosis. He described the family's journey: 'On difficult days Alia can have over 100 seizures, while on good days she can be seizure-free. She experiences a wide range of seizure types, including tonic-clonic, focal, absence, myoclonic, and atonic.'
Alia has tried numerous anti-seizure medications, the ketogenic diet, and even neurosurgery. Mark highlighted the broader impact: 'Epilepsy affects the whole family. Her younger sister Iris copes incredibly well and is classed as a young carer. Everyday life is shaped by epilepsy – from checking where the nearest hospital is when travelling, to thinking about safety in the home or whether a particular activity is suitable.'
The Challenge
The pair cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats, one of the UK's most famous cycling routes. Mark said: 'I've been friends with Tom since university, and within five minutes of pitching the challenge to him he said yes. This is our first challenge like this together – neither of us had any cycling background so we were very much learning and adapting each day.'
Despite the physical and mental demands, Mark found motivation in supporting Epilepsy Action. 'Having the motivation of supporting Epilepsy Action is huge when the current hill climb seems insurmountable or the headwind is picking up.' He also praised the scenery and camaraderie: 'Riding with Tom has been a massive positive... A big highlight was riding alongside the Yorkshire Dales in the big, open countryside, quiet roads, and one of those moments where you feel you're exactly where you're meant to be.'
Community Impact
The challenge allowed Mark to connect with others affected by epilepsy. 'From the very first night before we even started, we ended up sharing drinks with a couple who had epilepsy in their family and immediately wanted to support what we were doing – and that's been a theme all the way along the route.'
Mark volunteers for Epilepsy Action, participating in talk and support groups and serving as a peer support officer. He emphasized the charity's role: 'I have seen first-hand the impact the charity has. I started because I wanted to positively support a cause close to our family's heart due to my daughter's epilepsy. Since then, we've found Epilepsy Action is about community, advocacy and ambition – it's an amazing charity that offers so much.'
Raising Awareness
Mark encouraged people to learn about epilepsy first aid through the charity's CARE video, which covers comfort, action, reassure, and emergency. He noted: 'If more people understood what a seizure can look like and how to respond, it could save a life but also help protect someone's dignity in their bad day.'
Philippa Cartwright, director of fundraising at Epilepsy Action, said: 'Mark and Tom took on a monumental challenge, and we're so touched by their determination and drive to raise awareness of a condition that affects over 630,000 people in the UK. Through Mark's own journey with his daughter, his family knows the challenges as well as resilience that come with living with epilepsy.'
Epilepsy affects around one in every 100 people in the UK, with approximately 80 new diagnoses daily. In Yorkshire alone, around 52,000 people live with the condition. Epilepsy Action provides a national network of support groups, a freephone helpline (0808 800 5050), and online resources at www.epilepsy.org.uk.
