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Australian Cyclist : 01-Jul-2009
Gerrans helps out in war on disease
They live in different worlds but professional road racer Simon Gerrans and recreational cyclist Damian Watson are united in a cause: they are keen to raise awareness of Crohn's Disease. Gerrans will cycle for the first 15km of Watson's epic 3500km journey along the Tour de France route.
Watson, or ‘Watto' as he is known, was diagnosed with the disease seven years ago and hopes to lift the profile of Crohn's as well as raising $100,000 to fund a research project aimed at finding a cure. Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that has touched the lives of 28,000 Australians. An estimated 1000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Watson, pictured in training, was due to pedal off from Monaco on June 4 and cycle the 3500km route of the Tour through six countries as he made his way towards the finish line in Paris. It will be a journey of challenges, especially since he doesn't speak a word of French and admits that he has few cycling strengths. But he has a cause and the heart to fill it.
Watson, a 31-year-old Victorian, set himself the challenge because Crohn's is a little-known and little-understood condition. Although he manages his condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise, he has had two flare-ups since he was diagnosed.
This provided the impetus for his decision to use his healthy time to make a difference and lead the conversation in finding a cure. The most natural way to do this was to combine his passion for cycling with his passion for raising the profile of this debilitating disease.
His girlfriend, Marika Mulqueen, decided to accompany him on the ride and his sister, Tara, now living in England, planned to join him for at least some of the stages. His parents, John and Nancy, were part of the support crew.
Ten thousand e-news subscribers were expected to follow his progress via his e-newsletter and learn important facts about the disease along the way. For more information, visit http://www.thecrusaders.com.au/ or Crohn's & Colitis Australia at http://www.acca.net.au/