Bike project in memory of tragic duo

HORROR ROAD SMASH

A CYCLING instructor who lost her husband and son in a horror car smash has unveiled the first project in their memory.

Mackenzie Mellor – known as Mac – was passionate about helping children learn to cycle.

The 23-year-old had already founded the Mac’s Bikes charity before he was killed alongside his father, Christopher, in a tragic road crash in March 2019.

18 months on and his mother Rachael has continued the charity’s work with the help of Kirklees Council.

They are funding the installation of cycle and scooter storage racks in local schools, beginning with Linthwaite Ardron, Clough Head and Meltham primary schools.

As part of the Mac’s Bike legacy, donations are also made of fully serviced second-hand bikes.

The goal is to be able to offer bike storage to as many schools in Kirklees as possible. Additionally, bikes are soon to be donated to St Thomas’s CofE in Bradley and Honley High School, where children have recently taken part in Bikeability.

Rachael, a Bikeability instructor who works in the Kirklees area teaching children cycling skills, has been provided match funding of £3,225 by the council to make sure as many children as possible could benefit from the project.

Support for the project has also come from local fabricators P.A. Welding who donated materials and staff time to help with the installation of the racks. Each of the cycle and scooter racks with hold a memorial plaque with the name ‘Mac’s Bikes.’

Rachael said: “We at Mac’s Bikes very much hope that the racking will encourage more active travel to school, improving the health and wellbeing of our children as well as the longterm benefits to the environment.”

Rachael Hodgson, Year Three class teacher and health and well-being coordinator from Linthwaite Ardron, said: “We are so pleased to be the first school to receive a scooter pod from Mac’s Bikes.

“We cannot thank Rachel Mellor enough. We hope she will continue to raise money for such a wonderful, heartfelt charity.”

■■Schools that are interested in getting involved or help with fundraising, can contact Rachael Mellor at rachaelmellor@hotmail.com. Donations to Mac’sBikes can be made online.

We hope she will continue to raise money for such a wonderful,

heartfelt charity

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