A TEAM of cyclists cycled 1100 miles from the top to the bottom of the country to raise awareness of obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Cyclists OCD sufferer, Ashley Fulwood,39, of Sussex, and OCD specialist, Professor Paul Salkovskis, 57, of Bath, joined forces for ‘Ride4OCD’, cycling through England, Wales and Scotland, from Lands End to John o’ Groats, in just 15 days to raise awareness about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and fundraising for OCD-UK.

Passing through Newport, the cyclists stopped off in Abergavenny to raise awareness on behalf of an estimated 750,000 people that suffer with OCD here in the UK, accessing such life changing treatment can be problematic.

On the 20, 21, and 22 of August, the RIDE4OCD team conducted awareness meetings for people with OCD and local therapists in Abergavenny and Caerswys.

Both men are aim to raise awareness about the condition, and highlight inequalities in OCD treatment across different regions of the British Isles.

Mr Fulwood said: “For most of my life, OCD controlled me, it dictated to me, it ruled my life through severe fear of bodily fluid contamination.

“I was unable to venture far from home because every time I needed to use the loo, my OCD would make me think I needed to shower to ‘feel’ clean, and those showering compulsions would take on average 90 minutes.

“So a journey of this magnitude, where using public toilets was something I avoided for over ten years, would have been impossible.

“Whilst this cycling journey will be both a physical and mental challenge for me, I no longer let the OCD dictate to me what I can and can’t do – I am reclaiming my life back.

“Our slogan for the ride is ‘anything is possible’, something Ashley and I say to people when they have doubts about whether they can beat their OCD” Said Professor Salkovskis.

For more information visit http://www.ocduk.org/ride4ocd

To sponsor the team for OCD-UK, visit http://www.justgiving.com/ride4ocd