Dominic Shadbolt is pedalling 8,000 kilometres across Canada with a mission: raise $1 million for research into multiple sclerosis. He’s doing it with the support of several donors, including Ottawa’s Celestra Health. The 55-year-old British cyclist, who has roots in Vancouver, set off from Halifax on May 1 and expects to reach the Pacific coast […]
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Dominic Shadbolt is pedalling 8,000 kilometres across Canada with a mission: raise $1 million for research into multiple sclerosis. He’s doing it with the support of several donors, including Ottawa’s Celestra Health.
The 55-year-old British cyclist, who has roots in Vancouver, set off from Halifax on May 1 and expects to reach the Pacific coast by the end of August. He’s travelling solo on a recumbent trike and carrying all his gear with him. He is camping along the way and eating dried food. He was diagnosed with MS more than 30 years ago.
“We’re trying to raise a million dollars,” Shadbolt told OBJ this week during his stop in Ottawa. “And the thing with Canada is, it’s big and it’s difficult. There’s something vaguely heroic about doing it with all your luggage and tent and stuff.”
Ottawa-based healthtech firm Celestra Health is helping to power Shadbolt’s ride, including by donating US$5,000 to support his cross-country campaign. But the relationship goes deeper. Celestra develops AI-powered gait analysis tools for neurological conditions and invited Shadbolt to serve on its patient advisory board after meeting him through a clinical trial connection in the U.K.
“Dominic’s journey across Canada, cycling by himself with no support, rain or shine, and staying in campgrounds along the way is nothing short of courageous,” said Celestra CEO Bruce Ford. “We were all-in as soon as we heard about it.”
The sponsorship reflects Celestra’s broader commitment to patient-led development and its aim to improve long-term outcomes for people living with chronic neurological diseases such as MS and Parkinson’s disease.
Celestra’s flagship platform uses smart insoles to collect data about a patient’s gait as the person moves around during daily life. A patient wears the insoles a few times a week. Since they’re inside the shoes there’s no stigma attached or bulky gear to put on. The insoles collect hundreds of data points per second and an AI-powered algorithm is able to parse it all.
“So when you’re a patient you get your MS assessment once a year,” Shadbolt explained. “They give you a 25-foot walk assessment and the doctor is supposed to spot things like ataxia, muscle cramping, all this stuff.”
Walking quality is a key indicator of disease progression in conditions like MS but can be difficult for a physician to properly assess as there are too many variables at play, including human error.
“What if you’re having a bad day? What if you’re having a great day?” Shadbolt continued. “That might not be your normal day. With human factors, we’re not consistent.”
That’s where Celestra’s platform comes in. A doctor can then see the patient’s gait over a prolonged period of time, leading to more informed decisions.
“You charge (the insoles) up, like you would your iPhone,” explained Shadbolt. “And they just feed into an app in the cloud and your doctor is getting reliable data.”
He said the doctor can tell how much weight is being put on one foot, the way each foot rolls, and other important details that help decide which drugs and other courses of treatment are best.
The system has received FDA Class II medical device designation and is now being piloted in neurology clinics across North America and Europe. Shadbolt was one of the earliest patient testers and helped shape the product.
Ford said the company tested everything from smart belts to wristbands early on, but patients preferred something invisible and low hassle. “Our smart insole approach came directly from patient feedback,” he said.
Celestra is now running clinical trials in four countries and has signed contracts with major pharmaceutical companies to assess treatment outcomes.
Shadbolt, however, is not wearing the insoles on this ride. He reached Ottawa in the last days of May, stopping for a few days rest before continuing west. He’s following a rough schedule of riding six days a week and averages 60 kilometres a day. He remembers leaving Halifax with a 10-car police escort and officers shutting down intersections as he set out, but there were no warm greetings when he pulled into Ottawa. However, he marvelled at the architecture.
“It is so nice to see brick buildings,” he said jokingly. “What incredible Gothic architecture for the government buildings. I saw the Citadel in Quebec, but it wasn’t quite the same. I’m not just blowing smoke up people’s skirts. It’s decent.”
He travels with a custom trike loaded with camping gear and water, relying on donated or discounted equipment from outdoor brands. His ride is entirely self-supported. There’s no team car, no handlers. There’s only him, although he admits his sister is handling his social media back home in England.
The campaign, #RideCanada4MS, has so far raised tens of thousands of dollars toward its $1-million target. Shadbolt is encouraging Canadians to follow his journey online on YouTube and on the ride’s official website rc4ms.org.
