Meet the graduate embarking on just over a 1000-mile cycle challenge to support brain injury care and the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research centre
The centre launched in November 2014 and is run by Newcastle University, in partnership with the NHS. It brings together and consolidates Newcastle's distinguished, international, and world-leading record in research and care for neuromuscular diseases. It's focus is on the development and application of genomic and translational medicine to improve the health outcomes of people living with neuromuscular diseases.
29 August 2024
John Haycock (Biochemistry PhD, 1994) worked at Newcastle General Hospital during his studies at Newcastle in the research group that became the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research centre (JWMDRC).
After completing his studies at Newcastle, John went on to become Faculty Director of Research, Professor of Bioengineering and the Head of Materials Science at the Engineering department at the University of Sheffield in 2019.
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In March 2021, John suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage during a Zoom meeting and spent nearly two months in intensive care, followed by five months in neurorehabilitation. He lost his speech, vision in his right eye, movement in his right arm and leg, and developed cognitive impairments and epilepsy. With the help of specialists at Sheffield Hospitals, John slowly regained abilities through intensive rehabilitation, both in the hospital and at home.
Despite the challenges, his love for biking played a crucial role in his recovery, and he has gradually returned to cycling, now regularly riding 50 miles with his club, Sheffrec CC.
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This month, John undertook a charity bike ride for over three weeks from Land’s End to John O’Groats. He did this to raise money for two worthy causes, the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre at Sheffield and the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre.
Good luck!
How you can support John
Please share this story with your fellow Newcastle graduates to get the word out about John’s challenge. And if you would like to donate to his fundraising efforts, you can do so via JustGiving.
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