One of Cheshire College’s chiefs took a mammoth charity bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back.
It took Mark Parsons, Assistant Principal of Curriculum just 18 days and raised more than £ 7,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
After leaving Cornwall on Friday, July 16, Mark rode nearly 1,000 miles from the southwestern tip of England to the northeasternmost point of Scotland before embarking on the return voyage, which he completed earlier this month.
He struggled through heat waves and heavy rain, but his spirits stayed high as he cycled against the breathtaking backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, Cumbria’s Shap Summit, Somerset’s Cheddar Gorge and the Welsh hills of Monmouth.
Mark said: “The entire ride was an amazing mix of euphoria, fatigue, camaraderie and a tremendous sense of achievement.
“The highs definitely outweighed the low moments.
“I’ve been training for over a year and although the ride has put me to the test physically and mentally, the support from family, friends and colleagues helped me assert myself at all levels.
“I was overwhelmed by the number of positive and encouraging messages I received every day.
“It was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am delighted to have raised a significant amount for such a good cause.”
Numerous local businesses supported the challenge, including Body Perfect (Wrexham) who donated a van for Mark’s support team for the trip, Gym Gear who provided Mark with a spinning wheel for further training, LA Clothing, all of them Cycling apparel has sponsored needs and Eniga bikes who designed and custom made a brand new bike to ensure Mark travels in style and more.
There is still time to donate to the MS Society quickly and safely. Click here to visit Mark’s JustGiving page.
To learn more about Mark’s journey, click here and visit his Facebook page.
