Team Epilepsy Forward
Team Chief & Riding Captain - Katie Ford
Currently studying at Durham University, completing her BA in Sport, she has a long track record in sport and sports coaching on top of her formal HNC Sports Coaching qualification obtained through James Watt College, Ayrshire. In the 2008 Race Across America, she became the first ever Scottish rider and youngest ever British female rider to officially finish the race. In 2009 she is hoping to captain her mixed 4 team to victory within their category, in order to raise awareness for Epilepsy - the condition Katie suffers from herself.
Chief Mechanic - Stuart Shedden
Since his early teens Stuart has been a keen mountain biker, and was tinkering with the mechanics of his bikes to improve their performance. On leaving school he worked part time in a bicycle shop as a gap year prior to deciding on a career. He enjoyed the practical work of bicycle maintenance so much that he stayed on to learn the trade until he moved to North Ayrshire Cycles in 2000. Since then he has been the manager and chief mechanic of the shop using his skill and knowledge of bicycles to easily diagnose and rectify faults that occur even in the most complicated of modern bikes. His experience will surely be called into service during the gruelling Race Across America.
Team Medical Support - Carl Prather
Carl is a self-employed IT consultant in New Mexico. In 2006, a friend of his suggested he try EMS, and has been hooked ever since. He is now an EMT with a rural New Mexico Ambulance Service, and an EMT / fire-fighter with his local county fire department. Carl enjoys downhill mountain biking on his Kona Dawg and can be found in Moab a couple of times a year, merely testing the boundaries of reality. Carl is honoured to be involved with Team Epilepsy Forward and will be heavily involved in providing medical and miscellaneous support as needed by the Team.
Team Navigator - Richard Towers
Richard is currently studying at Durham University, for his MEng in Engineering, where amongst other things he is heavily involved with problem solving based activities. He is a keen distance walker in his spare time and crewed for a number of long distance sailing expeditions, including crossing the Atlantic. As a yacht skipper and walker, Richard has particular expertise in navigation and improvised maintenance. He is a first-aider and has received his Yachtmasters qualification, which involved him completing courses in fire-fighting and radio communication. A number of his skills will be required as one of Epilepsy Forward's navigators and he is sure to rise to the challenge.