Couple take on cycling challenge

A Tameside couple are taking on three mammoth cycling challenges this month to raise money for UK based charity, Brain Tumour Research. 

Mark and Megan Whittaker, from Stalybridge, will be riding across the UK on their tandem bike for a total of over 600 miles, with the aim of raising £1000 for a fantastic cause. 

The couple will start their journey this Saturday (June 8), with the ‘Sportive HQ Flat 100’, a 100-mile ride in South Yorkshire. 

Mark and Megan will then take on the ‘Coast to Coast Bike Ride’ on June 22, a 150-mile ride from Seascale to Whitby. 

This race will see the pair set off at around 5am and arrive at their destination at around 11pm. 

This would seem gruelling enough, but the two strong team are going one step further by returning to Seascale on the 24th meaning they will have pedalled an astonishing 300 miles in just three days. 

If this wasn’t enough, the couple are challenging themselves to their toughest test yet on the 29th, when they will look to make the 215-mile trip from Gretna Green to Llandudno, crossing through three countries in the process. 

By the close of June 29, Mark and Megan will have completed a total of approximately 616 miles in just three weeks. 

Despite both being keen cyclists, Megan believes her and Mark will have their work cut out: 

“To pedal over a hundred miles in a day means a lot of training, not only on event day but in getting strong enough to cycle that many hours. 

“To do 150 miles in a day means cycling 5am till evening - imagine pedalling all that time and all that time is on the saddle, it gets very uncomfortable on the old backside after so many hours.  

“150 miles doesn't sound bad given we cycle a lot, but this is brutal- over 10, 000 ft of elevation.  

“To put that in context it's three miles of height to climb, or four Snowdonia Mountains.” 

The pair will be riding in honour of Megan’s Grandmother, Eva, who she sadly lost to a brain tumour when she was a teenager. 

“My Grandma Eva had a brain tumour and we want to help Brain Tumour Research to fund research to stop this happening to others.  

“Life changing treatment is something so important in the effort to save lives. 

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease, this is unacceptable. 

“I am fundraising for Brain Tumour Research as they are the only national charity dedicated to funding long-term, sustainable research in the UK, please help me fund the fight- together we will find a cure.” 

Funds are being raised through Megan and Mark’s JustGiving page, which currently stands at £105. 

If you would like to donate, just search ‘Megan's fundraiser for Brain Tumour Research’, on the JustGiving website.