In Taylor Swift’s recent hit ‘Anti-hero,’ she notes how her supposed covert narcissism was disguised as altruism. Altruism tends to have some elements of narcissism and poses the question as to whether any action can truly be selfless. Philosophy aside, some recent personal acts of altruism have taken the forms of a cycle ride and a walk to fundraise for Motor Neurone Disease.   

The emotions and thoughts that Taylor Swift rides through in singing ‘Anti-Hero’ are more extreme than those that we felt, but there is a parallel in that we both went through some difficulty. Swift’s struggles came in adjusting her intrinsic, negative self-reflection to her love life, we encountered few struggles last Spring, but this year we endured brutal rains and winds. It was pretty much smooth-sailing last year; 6 of us had decided to collectively cycle 24 hours to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research. In essence, MND increasingly restricts what you are able to do over time as your motor neurones, the nerves that are responsible for carrying out voluntary muscle contractions, are infected, having an almost withering away effect on your body – it’s horrible. There is no cure to MND, and so the funds we raise contribute to its research: specifically, how its symptoms can be alleviated and possible future treatment. We fundraised in conjunction with the Euan MacDonald Centre* MND and I urge you to take a look at the wonderful initiatives that people have taken in the past.

Last March the 6 of us set off for our cycle, starting at Victoria, tracing a path around Battersea Park, before heading to Richmond Park via Fulham and then Putney and back. I remember entering Richmond Park and proposing a bet to my friend: if we saw a deer he would pay me £5. He took me up on the bet, and I’m sure he’s thankful that it wasn’t £5 for every deer we saw. It was a pleasant cycle: the weather was good, I was in a net profit of £5, and I also got the team to take a photo in front of Stamford Bridge, to the discontent of the two Arsenal fans. This year, 8 of us decided to walk 24km. Kitted out in baby blue Euan MacDonald Centre t-shirts we started in Sloane Square and marched along the Thames. As is now tradition, we stopped for a photo at a football stadium, Craven Cottage this time. Taylor Swift was playing from my headphones, and the morale was high…

That was until it started thundering down with rain. An umbrella would have been no match for the conditions; if the wind hadn’t already broken it by sheer force, the wind was also able to carry the rain at an angle that evaded the umbrella, pounding into us. There was definitely a range in who had dressed best for the conditions. I was at the better end of the spectrum, sporting a Patagonia parka whilst my friend Charlie was in uniform and school shoes. Wellies would have been clutch, because once the rain had seeped through our shoes and, in turn, our socks, we had entered a new era of chill, discomfort, and blisters. But there’s a good point to make that in times of despair, unity prevails. Unfortunately, the group then split: those who lived South of the river crossed Hammersmith Bridge to march on Wandsworth.

We ultimately raised £4,501 across both years, and the plan is to continue with an initiative each March as part of MND-24. It was pretty difficult incorporating Taylor Swift to open this article given that her links to fundraising for MND are few, but there is, however, another subtle link between the two: going out of one’s comfort zone to ultimately find comfort. Whilst Taylor Swift reflects on past loves in the hope for consolation, we push ourselves to go that extra bit, feeling good that our efforts lead to positive change – and not just a blank space.