Charity cycle ride in memory of father
A LOUGHBOROUGH man has completed an 170 mile charity bike ride after his father was diagnosed with cancer.
But sadly his dad, who was well known in the area, died before his son took on the challenge.
Mark Atkin-Barrett, who was born and raised in Loughborough but now lives in Shepshed, has completed a coast-to-coast sponsored bike ride in aid of Cancer Research.
Mark, 46, cycled with friends Dave Porter, Charles Bates and support driver, and father-in-law, Keith Atkin, from Morecambe to Bridlington in two days and so far has raised around £2,500.
Mark told the Echo: “In September last year my dad was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer and the prognosis was not good.
“After I came to terms with it, I knew I wanted to do something but I didn’t know what.
“After Christmas I thought I like going out on my bike and I suggested a bike ride. I thought I’d do it while my dad was still alive because we can talk about it together.
“The soonest we could arrange the ride for was last weekend (June 25) but sadly it turned out to be the weekend after my dad died.”
Mark’s dad, Brian Charles Barrett, died aged 74 on June 19. Mark said his dad was well known in the area especially through being an engineer at the Brush and Herbert Morris’.
Talking of the cycling challenge, Mark said: “It was tough, I didn’t realise how hilly Yorkshire is which I probably should have known!
“The first thing was to climb a steep hill and at the top my brake broke and I went into panic mode.
“I called my father-in-law and he fetched me and took be down to a bike shop to repair the brakethen he took me back up the hill to start from where I had broken down.
“Later in the ride the other two had a collision, it didn’t become apparent at the time that Charles had actually broken his wrist and he did the last 50 miles with it broken.
“At times when I was thinking ‘oh I’ve got another hill in Yorkshire to climb’ I’d reflect back and think of my dad and it’d give me a push to do it.
“I felt a great sense of achievement having finished it and I think my dad would be proud.
“I’ve never done anything like this before and I’d do something like it again without a doubt.”
• Mark’s JustGiving page can be found at: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/mark-atkin-barrett