MIKE McKenzie first became aware of ankylosing spondylitis when his son Bradley was diagnosed with the illness last October at the age of 28.
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It is a form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the joints of the spine, in which chronic inflammation and irritation lead to extra bone formation and fusion of the joints.
After Bradley’s diagnosis Mike, 64, decided to raise awareness of the crippling condition with a fundraising cycle from Melbourne to Darwin.
Three months later he, too, was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.
Now, father and son are preparing to take on the 3750km ride together, leaving Melbourne on September 27 with friend Stan Proctor.
Their wives Julie and Jane will join them as a support team, and all funds raised will be donated to Arthritis and Osteoporosis Victoria. Brad said a lack of sleep was his biggest problem since diagnosis.
“I sleep a maximum three to four hours a night – it’s exhausting and has a flow-on effect to the rest of your life,” he said.
“It’s an incessant cycle. “You become exhausted so your immune system drops, then you have a flare- up.
“The flare-up causes more pain and even less sleep.”
