Introducing Gayle Sheret - Support Team

GAYLE'S STORY

I was born in Edinburgh but currently live in Dalkeith.

In my day job, I work with the finance team at Birlinn Ltd, a book publisher based in Edinburgh. I have been cycling all my life. I'd consider myself a natural  - especially on the downhill sections 😀

WHY DID YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED

My background has nothing to do with cycling, but it was a no-brainer for me getting involved in this. Having completed the DoddieCup555 with Lasswade RFC in February 2023, I wanted to once again show support for the fundraising efforts of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. As a rugby community, many of us have personal links with Doddie. Some of my friends in our community are also directly affected by MND. Supporting Doddie's legacy is for them too.

MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE TRIP

Catching all the ferries on Day 1. That will be followed closely by the mental and physical wellbeing of the team throughout the challenge.

KEEPING DODDIE'S MEMORY ALIVE

This is absolutely crucial. Not only for the player he was, but for the decision he made to fight MND for others. Without everyone's fundraising efforts - whether that be through cycling challenges, Doddie Aid, individual sponsored challenges - without these funds, the Foundation simply wouldn't exist. Without the Foundation, there would not be funds available for MND research projects.

Our team found out just how important our efforts are, when we visited Professor Tom Gillingwater and team at Edinburgh Medical School in December. Their funding comes purely from the MNDF. Therefore, if there was no MNDF, there would be no funding. No funding means no team. No team means no research. No research means no cure. 

MOST INSPIRING THING ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE

The team. We have an amazing group who have embraced this crazy challenge and aim to do everything in their power for it to be a success. The generosity of time and talent coming together makes it so much more than the sum of its parts. The belief in us has been incredible and the support of VSN, the Ford Van Centre and CEF is testament to this. As a team, we meet online on a weekly basis. The first time we will meet together is the day before we leave! Getting to know your team in this way is not easy, but it seems to be working.

ULTIMATE AIM

For the team, our ultimate aim is that we hit our fundraising target. For MND - it is Doddie's legacy and to eventually find a cure.