A man who was housebound for more than five years is preparing to take on a 700-mile cycling challenge to raise money for charity.
William Harrison Senior, 31, has lived with agoraphobia, a debilitating anxiety disorder, for years.
It has left him only able to leave the house 15 times in 5 years and too frightened to cycle outdoors.
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After moving to Longridge in May this year, William found ease with the quiet lanes and rolling hills.
He said it was time to challenge himself and take control of his condition.
William added: “I decided it’s time to give myself a goal so I have something to work towards, to ignore all the background noise when and if it starts getting too hard with the agoraphobia.
“I decided to sign up to the Cycle 270 Miles in August event for Brain Tumour Research UK. However, I decided I’d make my own goal of £700 to show how monumental a force I can be.”
William has already exceeded his cycling target, completing an impressive 780 miles since the end of May as he builds towards the August challenge.
Explaining why he chose to support Brain Tumour Research, William said: “I chose Brain Tumour Research as the charity to fundraise for because brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of people under 40.
“Fundraising for this charity means hopefully one day they’ll find a way to cure brain tumours.
“I also chose this charity because their fundraisers are called a Fighting Force, and I feel that with the monumental changes I’m making in my own life while also raising funds, that indeed makes me a Fighting Force.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
