A Millfield family is the driving force behind a charity motorcycle ride that will raise awareness of Tourette Syndrome.
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Trudy Whitcombe has organised the Ticnic Ride for Tourette’s to help people like her husband Duncan and their nine-year-old son Bailey, who both have the neurological disorder that is characterised by involuntary movements and sounds called “tics”.
The ride will be held on Sunday, May 7 – the last day of Tourette Syndrome Awareness Week – and aims to raise $30,000 for the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia.
Mrs Whitcombe said the funds will allow the association to run its annual camp, where children and families affected by Tourette Syndrome have the chance to meet with people in similar situations – in some cases meeting others with Tourette’s for the first time.
“When our family attended the camp two years ago it was the first time my husband, who was 40 at the time, had ever met anyone else with Tourette syndrome apart from our son,” she said.
“It was also a fabulous chance for our son to feel ‘normal’ as everyone was ticking without people staring, or being bullied by other children.”
Tics may include blinking, twitching, barking, throat clearing, coughing, or repeating certain words.
Tourette syndrome also comes with a host of co-morbid conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety and sleep latency – each individual has their own unique mix.
For example, Bailey has Tourette syndrome, ADHD, ASD, OCD and dysgraphia (a condition that affects written expression).
“This can sometimes be a quite harrowing mix for a little nine-year-old soul to contend with,” Mrs Whitcombe said.
“So, I want to make sure the camp can run every year so that we and other families have a place to turn to for help and guidance.
“The camp offers a chance to be amongst a large group of people with varying degrees of Tourette syndrome.
“It offers children the chance to see what others go through and to ask questions about how others cope and it offers families the chance to discuss treatment options, successes and failures.”
Bailey will have the honour of riding pillion with celebrity ride leader, Tex O’Grady and his dog Bundy, who support charity fundraising events all over Australia.
The Whitcombes have had lots of support from local Hunter businesses donating prizes for a raffle, which has over 20 fabulous prizes.
The ride is set to go national, with interest from Darwin and Queensland to host Ticnic Rides in 2018.
The 2017 ride will depart from the carpark next to Teralba Amateur Sailing Club (1A First Street, Booragul). Registration is from 9.30am with stands up at 10.30am.
Riders will travel via Freemans Waterhole and Quorrobolong to Guest House Mulla Villa at Wollombi for the ‘Ticnic’ lunch, then continue on to Broke, Pokolbin, Lovedale, Kurri Kurri and Buchanan on their way to the finish line at the Holmesville Hotel, with the hotel providing bar snacks and a live band.
To find about more about the motorcycle ride, go to www.ticnicride.wixsite.com/ticnicride or email ticnicride@gmail.com.
Donations can be made online at https://www.mycause.com.au/page/134198/ticnic-ride-for-tourettes.
