The MONTANE® Spine® Race is delighted to announce that the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS) will be the official charity partner of the inaugural MONTANE® Spine® Fusion and Flare races, which start on 24 June 2017.
The MONTANE® Spine® Flare and Fusion races are new for 2017, summer versions of the iconic MONTANE® Spine® Race – a non-stop, 268-mile, winter challenge encompassing the entire Pennine Way.
Britain’s oldest National Trail traces the backbone of England, through some of the most beautiful and at times difficult terrain in the country, including the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Parks, Hadrian’s Wall and the Cheviots, and finishing at the Scottish Borders. Set over seven days, the non-stop ultra-marathons can be tackled through combination of running and hiking.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine, an issue for an estimated 200,000 people in the UK. It's a life-long condition that afflicts people differently at different times. In severe cases, it can provoke a fusion of the spine, causing pain, isolation and deformity. AS is also characterised by periods of intense pain, known as flares, which can last for weeks at a time.
As well as the natural link with the race name, the partnership will promote the importance of exercise in treating AS, which can help improve mobility, flexibility and reduce stiffness.
“We are delighted to welcome NASS as our official charity for the MONTANE® Spine® Fusion and Flare,” says co-race director Scott Gilmour. “Given the beneficial role exercise can play for many sufferers of NASS, we saw a great opportunity to not only collaborate and promote the role NASS plays supporting individual’s diagnosed with AS, but also raise awareness and help spread the message.”
“We are really excited to partner with the MONTANE® Spine® Fusion and Flare events,” says NASS chief executive Debbie Cook. “Our partnership will help to raise vital awareness of AS.”
“Alongside medication, exercise is the cornerstone of treatment for AS,” says Raj Mahapatra, NASS chair – who will be running the MONTANE® Spine® Fusion. “The fitter and more flexible you are, the more able you will be to deal with the stiffness and pain. Whether you walk a mile a day or take on a bigger challenge, it’s important to find what works for you and do something you enjoy, and push yourself whenever you can. We’re thrilled to partner with the MONTANE® Spine® Fusion and Flare 2017 and highlight this message.”
