'I had a stroke at 33 and my blood is replaced every month': Riding out the harsh realities of sickle cell disease

Refusing to let the health jeopardy of a serious blood condition hold her back, Sonia Chane-Sam found support and succour in cycling

Cyclist Sonia Chane-Sam, who has sickle cell disease
(Image credit: Daniel Gould)

"I have a massively addictive personality,” confesses Sonia Chane-Sam, speaking to me via laptop from her living room in Southwark, south London, when I ask how she first got serious about cycling. “I was already doing lots of gym-going, plus a bit of running, and I was really into spinning.” 

Her gym obsession was brought to an abrupt halt in 2014 when, aged just 33, she suffered a stroke and was urged by doctors to ease off the throttle. “I was told to quit smoking, live as healthily as possible and avoid stress,” recalls the 40-year-old. “As a single mum working and studying, I’d just finished my accounting diploma but had to drop my uni plans.” 

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David Bradford
Senior editor

David Bradford is senior editor of Cycling Weekly's print edition, and has been writing and editing professionally for 20 years. His work has appeared in national newspapers and magazines including the Independent, the Guardian, the Times, the Irish Times, Vice.com and Runner’s World. Alongside his love of cycling, David is a long-distance runner with a marathon personal best of 2hr 28min. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in 2006, he also writes personal essays exploring sight loss, place, nature and social history. His essay 'Undertow' was published in the anthology Going to Ground (Little Toller, 2024).