AN INSPIRATIONAL cyclist from near Ruthin who has Parkinson’s disease has completed a 380-mile journey for charity.

Determined Phil Doyle, who lives in Llanelidan, thought his cycling days were done when the symptoms of the condition began to take hold.

But the extraordinary 69-year-old, who was born and raised in Liverpool, has fought back and has completed a version of the Snowdonia 360 as part of a 12-person strong cycling team.

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The retired service engineer, whose love of cycling began when he was in his teens, said he was so emotional that he “burst into tears” when he reached Cwm Penmachno in Conwy, which was the main challenge of the four-day ride.

The team of eight men, and four women, who are all members of Ruthin Cycling Club, have raised more than £11,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance so far.

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. Approximately 7600 people in Wales have the condition.

Phil, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s two-and-a-half years ago, got into competitive cycling when he was 16 with Phoenix Cycling Club.

The club has been going for more than 100 years, and Phil has been a member for 53 of them.

Phil said: “There’s a climb called Cwm Penmachno and that was the main challenge of the week. It really hurt. I actually burst into tears when I got to the top of it because of the emotion of it.

“Obviously, I’d done a lot of preparation for this bike ride but at the back of my mind I was thinking ‘am I kidding myself here? Can I really churn out 100 miles a day? Am I going to get to 50 miles and ride myself to a standstill?’ I hadn’t ridden 100 miles for 15 years.

“But we did 114 miles on the second day of the ride and on the last 30 miles I was flying. I felt great.

“The week before, I’d done an 85 mile ride along the coast and I just felt like I had good legs, and that gave me confidence.

“Anyway, I got through it, and it was emotional for everybody because the 12 of us who went, everybody had done their 100 miles a day, and were capable of doing it, but then to get up the next day and do another 100 miles was a bit of a challenge.

“What I didn’t realise was that the other 11 riders knew about my condition and they were sort of watching out for me and appreciating the effort I put in. I didn’t expect any concessions at all.”

Phil described how Parkinson’s began to impact his life, saying: “I’d had what they call an essential tremor for about seven years. It was a tremor in my hand.

“I always remember it because it coincided with the lockdown, so that was three years ago.

“I was aching all over and I couldn’t understand what was going on. It felt like I was riding in sand.

“I started going out on my bike again and doing more and more to the point where I go out now and I completely forget that I’ve got Parkinson’s.

“After getting the medication, things have gradually improved. I wouldn’t say I’m ever going to be back to where I was. But I did that 380 mile trip in four days.

“The medication has given me my life back, The only issue I have now is sleeping. My sleep is disrupted, which is quite difficult. 

“I just appreciate every day now. But I know it’s a degenerative condition so I just take each day as it comes.

“With Parkinson's it’s so important to keep exercising. I’m used to the exercise so that’s helped me.

“Parkinson’s UK has been helpful. When you meet other people with Parkinson’s you don’t feel like you’re the only world who’s got it.

“With any illness you can feel you’re the only one who is struggling with it. So it’s good to meet other people who have the condition and get inspiration from them.”