Couple saddle up for coastal trek
ACOUPLE have set their sights on a coast-to-coast tandem bike ride to raise funds for St Ann’s Hospice.
Megan and Mark Whittaker are taking on a coastto-coast challenge in tandem to raise money for the hospice.
The couple will attempt to cycle from Seascale in Cumbria to Whitby in North Yorkshire in just one day.
The challenge was inspired by Megan’s nanna, Gertrude, who was cared for at St Ann’s Hospice in 2015 and her step-grandmother, Annie, who was supported by the hospice in 2007.
Megan said: “This challenge is to thank everyone at the hospice for their love, support and care they provided for our two amazing grandparents, who we loved dearly.”
The couple are no strangers to taking on a challenge on their tandem bike, named Trudie after Megan’s
nanna, having cycled from Manchester to Blackpool in 2017, taken part in the Cheshire Cat Sportive in 2018 and completing the Manchester 100-mile bike ride in 2019.
Looking ahead to their latest adventure, Megan said: “We’ll be cycling 150 miles with an ascent of around 4,500 metres in around 14 hours.
“We’ll set off in the mountainous west of the Lake District and head through the Yorkshire Dales.
“From there, we travel along the Vale of York into the North Yorkshire Moors and finish up by the sea in Whitby.
“It is without doubt the hardest thing we have ever done.”
Once the couple have completed their ride and taken a well-deserved rest day, they will get back in the saddle and cycle the reverse journey from Whitby to Seascale.
In addition to their coastto-coast challenge, Mark and Megan will also be taking on the 2022 Tour De Manc on Sunday, May 1 to raise further funds for St
Ann’s Hospice.
To sponsor Megan and Mark on their coast-tocoast challenge visit: www. justgiving.com/fundraising/tandemc2c2c