Durban - Backed by 85 cyclists, multiple sclerosis (MS) patient, Oliver Sinclair, rode the 35km from Hillcrest to Durban in the Amashova race on Sunday.
And after Sinclair, 39, and his supporters had crossed the finishing line, they gathered at Suncoast where they were met by cameraman Andreas Mathios, who is helping Sinclair build a visual autobiography and legacy about his life for his family and young son, Tyler, 4.
The recording of Sinclair’s milestone moments is also to raise awareness about MS.
“This is all about a real, living person with multiple sclerosis. We also want to motivate the people doing research into this disorder,” Mathios explained.
Mathios, who runs a community action network, SA CAN and is donating time to the autobiography, will be doing regular, six monthly updates on Sinclair’s MS journey and posting them on YouTube.
Mathios also plans to take Sinclair’s many photo albums and video the contents and work on a script for the autobiography.
Sinclair and his wife, Michelle - the chairwoman of the KZN Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Southern Africa - expect to raise almost R150 000 for local MS patients from the team’s participation in the race.
The funds will go to pay for 15 patients’ carers and medical supplies.
Michelle said this morning that Oliver had tired himself out in on Sunday’s race.
“Let’s just say he won’t be going to work today,” said Michelle, laughing.
He still works as a health, safety and operations manager at the family business.
Sinclair used a motorised electric bike for the race as he does not have the strength to pedal a normal cycle.
After the race, he used a mobility scooter, which he generally uses to move about big shopping centres.
“The race is a long way and a huge challenge for Oliver, especially when his energy level dropped,” his wife said.
“He battled to hold on to the bike with his right hand and his right leg often fell off the pedal… but he did pedal in the race.”
This time, Sinclair finished the race in 90 minutes, 15 minutes faster than last year and his wife put this down to her husband having so many supporters around him.
She said that it had not just been the physical exertion of the race, but the long day that had added to his fatigue.
“We had been up since 4am yesterday and the lack of sleep made the symptom (of fatigue) even worse.
“Oliver’s symptoms don’t include pain normally, but he struggles to use the right-hand side of his body.”
She explained that it was often difficult for him to, for example, cut up his food or tie his shoelaces, but he was still trying.
According to the Multiple Sclerosis SA website, the disease was “tailor-made” for each sufferer and symptoms varied from person to person.
“The brain and the spinal cord are targeted by the body’s immune system, resulting in damage to the protective layer around the nerves, slowing messages to the brain and body.
“(Symptoms) can include extreme fatigue, mobility difficulties, eyesight, balance and sensory problems, including numbness or tingling.”
Michelle said that Oliver had been diagnosed at the beginning of 2004 and treatment had been started immediately by his neurologist.
It started when the right side of his face went numb, and then later, after a couple of other attacks, he temporarily lost his speech and feeling from the waist down.
But the double vision, which he got from the start, has remained.
He is now in the second progressive stage and will not fully recover from attacks.
But Sinclair is a fighter and does rehabilitation biokinetics and goes to gym three times a week to do core exercises.
“He had also experienced several attacks which made it easier for the doctor to diagnose.
“In some cases, it is very difficult to diagnose MS.”
He had been on the same treatment for eight years, until doctors noticed that his MS was progressing.
“His attacks were becoming more and more frequent and his medication was changed.
“The doctors put him on a drug called Tysabri, which is administered in the form of an infusion (a drip) every month,” she said.
Michelle said that before this treatment, he could only walk 100m at a time.
“But at this year’s Discovery Walk, he managed 4km. We’ve seen a huge improvement.”
She said that documenting his father’s efforts for Tyler had been something “very special”.
“The support has been overwhelming.
“Our aim was to make Oliver’s struggle more personal, so that people could understand what MS sufferers go through.”
She said that it was also a way to connect father and son.
“For example when we go to the beach we often ask Andreas to come with us so that he can capture that Oliver can’t walk on the sand, but instead has to watch us from far away.”
She said that she wanted Tyler to see that Oliver, despite his condition, was still with them.
“He has a son he wants to be with and that keeps him going.”
This is the second year that the couple have drummed up support for the association at the Amashova race.
Last year, they raised R100 000 from the 56 cyclists, supporters and sponsors, and this year, they got 85 people to cycle in the race with Sinclair.
“We could easily have got 100 people in the team but there is a cut-off date for the race,” Michelle said.
Cyclists were asked for donations for the association and some people donated R500 and others R5 000, she said.
Daily News