Key Points
- Cyclist’s Journey: Martin Mooney, a 44-year-old road cyclist from Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, is undertaking a major endurance challenge, cycling 3,600 kilometres to raise funds and awareness for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland).
- Accident and Diagnosis: In June 2017, at age 36, Mr Mooney suffered a severe cycling crash that left him unconscious. Hospital investigations revealed he had been living with non-pressurised hydrocephalus (NPH) since birth.
- Severe Injuries: The 2017 accident resulted in a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and a broken pelvis. Treatment at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow led to an MRI and neurological pressure monitoring, uncovering excess brain fluid.
- Charity Challenge: Titled ‘Living and Riding: 60 for Hydrocephalus’, the campaign involves completing 60 distinct 60-kilometre rides through November. The feat honours SBH Scotland’s 60th anniversary.
- Community and Rehabilitation: Mr Mooney, who also volunteers for the Glasgow-based charity Bike for Good, overcame subsequent knee joint surgeries by utilizing targeted exercise and cycling as a primary mental and physical recovery tool.
Bearsden (Glasgow Express) August 20, 2026 — A 44-year-old road cyclist from uk/local/bearsden/">Bearsden who discovered he had been living with an undiagnosed lifelong brain condition following a severe road accident has embarked on a 3,600-kilometre charity cycling mission. Martin Mooney was diagnosed with non-pressurised hydrocephalus (NPH) in 2017 after a crash left him with multiple orthopedic injuries and prompted neurological testing that revealed excess fluid on his brain. Fully recovered from his physical trauma, Mr Mooney is now executing a massive endurance challenge titled ‘Living and Riding: 60 for Hydrocephalus’, completing 60 individual 60-kilometre cycle rides across Scotland to raise vital funds and public awareness for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland.
As reported by reporter Craig Williams of The Herald, Mr Mooney was 36 years old when the life-altering accident occurred in June 2017. While out on a standard route, Mr Mooney lost consciousness and crashed heavily by the roadside. Having failed to receive his routine check-in messages during planned coffee stops around Aberfoyle, his father, Stephen Mooney, drove along the cycling route and located him unconscious at the side of the road.
Emergency services transferred Mr Mooney to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Upon admission, medical personnel treated him for extensive physical trauma, including a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and a broken pelvis.
Due to the presence of head trauma, attending clinicians performed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which unexpectedly identified a significant accumulation of excess fluid within the brain cavity.
Following the initial MRI scans at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Mr Mooney was immediately transferred to the neurosurgery department. Surgeons inserted a specialised intracranial probe directly into his head to monitor and record fluid pressure levels continuously over a dedicated period.
As recorded by Craig Williams of The Herald, Mr Mooney reflected on the diagnostic process:
“It turned out I had non-pressurised hydrocephalus since birth. It took a wee while to process my condition, but eventually, I realised that my life experiences and mental health were as a result of NPH. So as bad as the crash was, good came of it because it answered so many questions I had always asked. I had asked myself questions because I always knew something wasn’t right.”
Following his neurological diagnosis, medical specialists worked alongside Mr Mooney to help him understand the lifelong symptoms that had previously gone unexplained.
During his mental health recovery, his clinical psychologist highlighted physical exercise as an effective therapeutic intervention. Mr Mooney initially pursued long-distance running, acquiring a dog to maintain daily physical conditioning. However, repetitive high-impact exercise led to severe cartilage degradation in his knees, temporarily halting his activity.
To repair the knee damage, surgeons performed advanced procedures utilizing computerised axial tomography (CAT) scans to map the arthritic bone before employing a robotic drill to remove precise sections.
Metal plates and synthetic plastic cartilage were implanted to reconstruct the joint. Following recovery, Mr Mooney transitioned back to low-impact road cycling—a sport long championed by his father, Stephen Mooney—and subsequently joined the Glasgow-based charity Bike for Good as a volunteer.
As detailed by reporter Craig Williams of The Herald, Mr Mooney described the motivation behind his fundraising structure:
“If cycling helps me live with hydrocephalus, then why don’t I ride for hydrocephalus? It just makes sense to me.”
He added:
“I find it warming when I am in contact with people with the condition. Mine was diagnosed in my thirties after a cycling crash, so I wonder how many others there are out there in a similar position.”
The fundraising campaign, ‘Living and Riding: 60 for Hydrocephalus’, requires Mr Mooney to execute 60 individual 60-kilometre cycling routes across local terrain between the summer and late autumn.
The number 60 directly commemorates the 60th anniversary of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland. Mr Mooney plans to complete the final 60-kilometre leg in November during an annual family trip to Lanzarote, coinciding with his 45th birthday.
As cited by reporter Craig Williams of The Herald, Andrew Flynn, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, commended the effort:
“Martin’s story is nothing short of inspirational. Despite the challenges he has faced throughout his life, he has turned those experiences into an opportunity to raise awareness, support others, and make a real difference. His determination, resilience, and passion embody everything we mean when we talk about being unstoppable. We are incredibly grateful to Martin for taking on this remarkable challenge—3,600km in total is honestly incredible, all in support of SBH Scotland. He is showing so many people what can be achieved when you refuse to let barriers define you.”
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What Is the Background of Hydrocephalus Diagnosis and SBH Scotland’s Work?
Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition characterised by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the cavities or ventricles of the brain. Under typical physiological conditions, CSF flows through the brain and spinal cord, cushioning the central nervous system, delivering nutrients, and removing metabolic waste products.
When the natural drainage or absorption mechanism is obstructed or impaired, the fluid builds up. In many instances, this causes increased pressure inside the skull, which can damage brain tissue and lead to cognitive, physical, and developmental challenges.
Non-pressurised hydrocephalus, or normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), presents a unique diagnostic challenge because the fluid builds up without always causing a sustained dramatic spike in resting intracranial pressure.
Consequently, the condition can remain hidden for decades, particularly when congenital. Patients living with undiagnosed NPH may experience unexplained subtle difficulties with balance, motor coordination, cognitive processing, executive functioning, and mood stability—symptoms that are frequently misattributed to other psychiatric or neurological causes until neuroimaging, such as an MRI or CT scan, is performed following acute trauma.
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland) was formed to provide lifetime support, clinical advocacy, and social resources to individuals, families, and carers affected by hydrocephalus and spina bifida.
The charity offers family support groups, home visits, financial advice, and social integration programmes designed to mitigate the isolation often associated with complex neurological disorders. Challenges such as Mr Mooney’s 3,600km cycling initiative directly fund these community support networks and medical guidance helplines across Scotland.
How Will This Development Impact Patients, Cyclists, and Healthcare Advocates?
The publicity surrounding Martin Mooney’s 3,600-kilometre challenge is expected to have a tangible impact across medical, athletic, and patient support communities:
- Increased Diagnostic Awareness for Adults: By highlighting a case where non-pressurised hydrocephalus remained undetected until age 36, the news encourages medical practitioners and patients with unexplained long-term physical or cognitive difficulties to consider adult neuroimaging. It demonstrates how traumatic events can unexpectedly uncover pre-existing, manageable brain conditions.
- Inspiration for Physical Rehabilitation: Mr Mooney’s recovery from multiple structural fractures, joint replacement surgeries, and brain trauma provides a clear case study for clinicians, physiotherapists, and patients. It illustrates the role tailored, low-impact exercise like cycling can play as both a mental health intervention and physical rehabilitation tool.
- Financial and Operational Boost for SBH Scotland: The funds generated from the 60-part cycle route directly increase the operational budget of SBH Scotland, allowing the charity to expand outreach programmes, fund peer-support groups, and assist newly diagnosed adults navigating similar late-stage diagnoses.
- Enhanced Engagement in Community Cycling: As a volunteer with Bike for Good, Mr Mooney’s public challenge reinforces the broader social value of community bike workshops, promoting cycling as an accessible, inclusive activity for individuals managing chronic health conditions.
