Sutton man 's epic 850 miles bike ride fundraiser ahead of kidney transplant

Jack Denby, 27, has chronic kidney disease, and is taking part in a gruelling 14-day charity ride – ahead of having to undergo a kidney transplant.

Despite his own failing kidneys, he has pledged to cycle a route from Edinburgh to London to raise money for Kidney Research UK.

There are 850 million people worldwide with some form of kidney disease. Jack initially aimed to raise £850, but has so far raised over £5,000.

He is hoping generous Mansfield and Ashfield folk will help boost his fundraising.

Jack grew up always knowing one day he would need a kidney transplant and said the bike challenge was “the perfect opportunity to do something good” before his health deteriorated.

He said: I “have chronic kidney disease. It is something I don’t talk about, something I’ve learnt to just get on with and accept, but something I won’t allow to stop me doing the things I want to do.”

Jack’s fundraiser was designed to raise funds for lifesaving research, but he also said it had a personal element, to show others that the illness ‘shouldn’t define a person’.

"It certainly won’t define me or hold me back,” he said.

Jack was joined by family friends and supporters on Saturday (August 21) who cheered him off from Sutton Lawn, near the skate park, at 10am, for day seven of his UK-wide 14-day stint. He will finish in Hyde Park, in London, next Saturday, August 28.

His mum, Helen Jackson, from Sutton, said: “I am so incredibly proud of Jack for what he is doing, his kidney function has reduced since he was born. His consultant told him he probably shouldn’t be doing the challenge, but Jack was determined to do it for himself and to help others.”

“He has been training since March, it is just something Jack just wanted to do. We really hope people will help support him on his challenge and his charity fundraising.”

To support Jack’s cause visit his Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jack-850challenge or visit the Kidney Research UK. You can also follow his route on his Facebook page.

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