On Wednesday 1 December, Mike Thomas will be taking a drive down memory lane at Brands Hatch racing circuit to help raise awareness of PSP & CBD.
Mike used to be a racing driver at Brands Hatch and the circuit have agreed to let him take a drive down memory lane, dressed as Santa, following his PSP diagnosis in 2019.
After experiencing symptoms such as falling backwards and having problems with balance and walking, Mike was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s but the diagnosis was updated to PSP as his symptoms continued to progress.
Mike’s wife Pat organised for him to drive his mobility scooter around part of the Brand Hatch circuit on 1 December so he can relive memories from his racing career, and also raise awareness of PSP, which is relatively unheard of, even within the medical community.
Pat says of the event: “I got Mike a mobility scooter after his balance and mobility started to deteriorate. Mike then he came up with the idea that he could drive it around the small circuit at Brands Hatch, which is not far from us. I did not say anything to Mike but I got in touch with Brands Hatch and was so pleased after they gave Mike permission to ride there again, even on a mobility scooter. When I told him, Mike was thrilled and has not stopped talking about it.
“Mike showed me a black and white video of him winning a race at Brands Hatch and of him going to collect his prize in 1976. On 1 December, it may not be the same atmosphere that Mike had on that day but I know when he will be dressed in his Santa suit and driving at Brands Hatch, it will bring back happy memories and give him a whole lot of new memories too. We hope that we will be able to raise money and awareness of PSP in the process as well.”
Mike Thomas’s Santa Dash at Brand Hatch will be taking place at 12.30pm on 1 December on the small club circuit.
You can sponsor Mike’s Brands Hatch Santa Dash at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mikethomaspsp
