Laura Ganderton: “My hearing has never defined my limits” (BSL)

On 31 July, Laura Ganderton began an extraordinary challenge: cycling every stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift route, just one day ahead of the professionals.

Laura is part of a team of female amateur cyclists taking on The Route, following the entire TdFFAZ route and experiencing what it is like to ride the same stages as the world’s best female cyclists.

But for Laura, the challenge has a much deeper meaning.

Laura’s mum had blood cancer last year, giving her a deeply personal connection to Cure Leukaemia, the official UK charity partner of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

The funds raised through The Route will support the charity’s ATICUS Network, which aims to improve access to clinical trials for children battling blood cancer.

For Laura, being deaf also brings another motivation. As she puts it, there is a “slight need to prove myself”. The Route offers an opportunity to push herself physically, experience something extraordinary and raise money for a cause that means a great deal to her.

Here, Laura shares her story with The Limping Chicken — from growing up with hearing loss and being told she might not cope in mainstream education, to discovering BSL, finding community and ultimately embracing being deaf.

She also explains how technology helps her cycle safely, why she would never change her hearing, and what it means to take on a challenge of this scale.

“I was born with hearing loss, although this was not recognised immediately. My mum first noticed when I was a toddler that I was not responding to sounds in the same way as other children.

Following assessments, it was discovered that I struggled to hear lower-frequency sounds and had reduced hearing in the higher frequencies.

My left ear is more affected than my right, but I have mild to moderately severe hearing loss in both ears and wear hearing aids bilaterally.

I received my first hearing aids at the age of six. At the time, I disliked wearing them and relied heavily on lip-reading, often accepting that I would miss parts of conversations and situations around me.

The analogue hearing aids available then were not particularly effective for my type of hearing loss, so I did not wear them consistently. As a result, school could be very challenging.

When I was younger, my parents were advised that I should attend a specialist school because it was believed I would not be able to cope academically in a mainstream secondary school.

My parents did not agree with that assessment and chose to send me to a mainstream high school. It was not always easy, and there were certainly challenges along the way, but I persevered and successfully completed my education there.

Looking back, I am grateful that my parents believed in my abilities and refused to let assumptions about my hearing define my potential.

A significant turning point came in my mid-twenties when digital hearing aids became available through the NHS. For the first time, my hearing aids could be programmed specifically to my hearing profile. The difference was life-changing, and I have worn them daily ever since.

Having access to technology that met my needs gave me greater confidence and independence. It enabled me to attend university, complete my degree, and later return to study for a master’s degree.

One aspect of reduced hearing that is often overlooked is the amount of additional processing required every day.

Many people are unaware of the concentration involved in listening, lip-reading, interpreting information, and navigating environments that are not always accessible. It can be mentally exhausting, even when it is not visible to others.

In my late teens, I decided to learn British Sign Language (BSL), completing Levels 1 and 2 at Stafford College. Learning BSL was a transformative experience for me.

It opened the door to another community and another way of communicating that did not rely on my ears. For perhaps the first time, I found a space where I did not need to work so hard to listen, lip-read or keep up.

Through learning BSL, I began attending Stafford Deaf Club, where I was made to feel incredibly welcome. I met some wonderful people, made lasting friendships and gained a deeper appreciation of Deaf culture and community.

I have many fond memories of my time there. It was a place of connection, acceptance and belonging, and it helped shape my understanding of my own identity.

Those experiences also helped me realise that my hearing is not simply about what you cannot hear. It is about community, language, culture and shared experiences.

They gave me confidence in who I was and helped me feel more comfortable navigating both the hearing and Deaf worlds.

I am also aware that there are many perspectives and preferences regarding terminology, including deaf, Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing loss.

Personally, I identify as deaf. Growing up, I often felt caught between the hearing and Deaf communities, never fully fitting into either. As an adult, however, I have become more comfortable with who I am and where I belong.

I value being able to connect with both communities and draw from each in different ways. There is something special about that experience, and it has become an important part of my identity.

This cycling challenge is, in many ways, a testament to the resilience, determination and problem-solving skills I have developed throughout my life.

The Route isn’t just about pushing physical limits—it’s about making a difference. Every pound raised will go directly to Cure Leukaemia, the official UK charity partner of the TdFFAZ.

These funds will support the revolutionary ATICUS Network, breaking barriers in clinical trial access for children battling blood cancer and bringing hope to families across the UK.

Living with my hearing has taught me that there is not always a straightforward route to achieving something, but there is almost always another way. Rather than seeing my hearing as a barrier, I have learnt to adapt, find solutions and use the tools available to me.

Cycling presents its own challenges. When I am riding, the wind noise through my hearing aids makes it almost impossible for me to hear approaching vehicles until they are alongside me.

To help manage this, I use a radar system on my bike which alerts me to traffic approaching from behind.

Technology can play a transformative role, from digital hearing aids to cycling safety equipment, helping me to participate fully and confidently in activities that I enjoy.

This challenge is about more than cycling. It is about demonstrating that my hearing does not define what I can achieve. It is about showing that, with determination, support and the right adaptations, we can do hard things. 

My hearing may influence how I approach a challenge, but it will never stop me from taking it on.

If I had the opportunity to change my hearing, I would not. Being deaf has shaped my experiences, influenced my perspective on life and helped develop the resilience and determination that I carry with me today.

It has played a significant role in making me who I am, and I am proud of the person I have become. Most importantly, I am proud to be deaf.

My hearing has never defined my limits. It has simply taught me that there is more than one way to reach a destination.

And after a lifetime of proving that, I still appreciate the simple pleasure of taking out my hearing aids at the end of the day, enjoying the quiet, and letting the world slow down.”

Laura is raising money for Cure Leukaemia through The Route. If you are able to support her challenge, you can donate here:

Donate to Laura’s JustGiving page

Every penny really does help.