Dad overjoyed with friends challenge for sons' rare condition

Ben Carter, who runs the Brewers Arms in Martinstown with his wife Leanne, told of the emotional challenge his friend has completed to raise awareness for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

Prior to the Covid lockdowns in 2019, Ben and Leanne found out there eldest son, Noah, now 13, had the rare medical condition.

Ben Carter outside the Brewers Arms in Martinstown (Image: Ben Carter)

He then tested his other two sons for the hereditary disease. His youngest son Quinn, now almost five, was also diagnosed with the condition, whilst Joss, 11, was confirmed as a carrier.

The condition prevents the adrenal glands functioning correctly and to stay healthy, people with CAH must take daily life-long medication.

The condition means they are at risk of a life-threatening adrenal crisis in an emergency - for instance if they are ill or injured. 

READ: Dorset dad raising awareness of sons’ rare condition

Steve's bike outside Lord's cricket ground in London (Image: Steve Howard)

Steve Howard, from Poundbury, rode more than 1,173 miles, to every first-class cricket ground in England and Wales to raise awareness for the condition - raising £2,000 in the process.

He took on the challenge to help raise the profile of the condition and rode to each cricket ground because of Noah's love for the sport.

Now that the challenge has been completed, Ben has been left 'astounded' by his friends generosity.

He said: “I am astounded by Steve’s achievements and completely in awe of what he has gone out of his way to do for this charity.  

"Steve and I had several chats prior to him taking on this challenge, and every time I walked away thinking there’s so much that could go wrong at any point.  

"To see him cycle into the village and complete the task in hand unharmed was very emotional, and to not give up after the gear failure in Hastings is a sure sign of his grit and determination which undoubtedly carries him through all the challenges he puts in front of himself.  

"We are so grateful that this challenge was in recognition of the living with CAH charity.”

The finish line for Steve's challenge at the Brewers Arms in Martinstown (Image: Steve Howard)

The ride took Steve 16 days and included 38,225 ft of climbing, almost exactly the height of Mount Everest.

In a total it took Steve 114 and a half hours and saw the ultra-marathon runner endure plenty of highs and lows along his way.

Riding into a 30 to 40mph block headwind for 86 miles on the penultimate day was a particular challenge, along with a major rear tyre blowout and having the bike’s electronic gears fail, resulting in the final 170 miles being ridden with only one rear gear.

However, there were plenty of highs too, especially the welcome he received from staff at each of the 18 cricket grounds he visited.

Steve said: “The welcome I received at the cricket grounds once they knew what I was doing and that it was for the CAH charity was fantastic”.

“The ride as a whole was obviously very tough in places, but still extremely enjoyable. Having the chance to ride through some of the prettiest places in England and Wales was a joy and to be able to do it in aid of a very worthwhile charity made completing the challenge all the more satisfying."