An Edinburgh dad who says every day is a blessing, four years after being diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, is gearing up for his toughest challenge yet.
Davy Zyn was diagnosed with the life-changing illness in 2018 after feeling a number pain in his finger. After years of fundraising and campaigning, the 34-year-old is set to cycle 260 miles across Scotland's highest public roads.
Davy also starred in a documentary going into detail about his condition, with film crews in cars following his journey across the North Coast 500 in 2020. The result, The Ride On, is a documentary with backing from the likes of adventurer, Mark Beaumont, sports hero Chris Hoy and fellow MND warrior and former rugby star Doddie Weir.
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Davy raised an incredible £150,000 for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation from that cycle alone, with the Edinburgh-born dad now set to endure another gruelling challenge on a special bike that electronically changes gears, due to Davy losing the ability to do it himself.
The author and wine expert will begin the challenge, dubbed the 'High Five', on August 11 and will be accompanied by his twin brother Tommy Zyw (34), their 29-year-old brother Sorley Richardson, and a group of five friends. He said: “I've had the disease for almost four years and I'm not dead yet, so every day is a good day. I want to make the most of every second I have.
‘My health is deteriorating, but I’m still cycling. I don’t know how many more chances I’ll have to do something like this again. This challenge has never been done before and I think only now am I coming to terms with the gravity of it. It’s a real feat of endurance for any cyclist - but especially for someone who has MND.
“I’m excited but I’m very nervous. It’s a step into the unknown and I’m not sure how my body will react. I’m taking on a lot but I’m excited. I am so lucky to be in a position that I can do this – when I was first diagnosed I didn’t think I’d be alive in four years. I was emergency planning.
“My left hand, left arm, shoulders, and now my right arm are beginning to fail me. The electric gears have been a game changer. I have three aims, to finish, raise more money for My Name’5 Doddie, and thirdly to drive as much awareness as possible. The more awareness raised, the more people can rally for action which drives progress. Doddie, myself and the MND community need progress. We are nearing a medical breakthrough but the reality is, for us, we are running out of time.”
Davy believes one of the biggest challenges has been finding time to train while looking after his young son, Alek, and working. He continued: “Doing an hour of cycling on your lunch break doesn’t really cut it. You need to go out for eight, nine, ten hours. But thankfully my wife is hugely supportive and understanding of how much training is required.
“I’m so glad I’m doing this with my brothers and friends. There have been some dark times in recent years, and there will be some dark times on the bike, but they always lift me up with laughter." After his diagnosis, Davy moved back to Edinburgh after ten years living in London. In 2021, he and his wife Yvie Zyw, 33, had their first son.
To donate, visit High Five’s Just Giving page, here. To donate to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, visit the Foundation's website, here.
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