Marathon charity cycle ride

A North Yorkshire mum is taking on a gruelling 1,000-mile cycle ride to raise money for charity.

Gemma Towell has been inspired to tackle the challenging route from John O’Groats to Lands End by three friends who have battled cancer.

This ride is one of several tough cycling challenges she set herself to help her employer, Skipton-based, Whitakers Chocolates, reach their goal of raising more than £10,000 for its chosen charity, Beefy’s Charity Foundation.

The Foundation, set up by former England cricketer, Sir Ian Botham in January 2013, supports projects relating to chronic illness faced by young people. It is currently funding specific projects relating to cardiac risk in the young, Batten disease, brain tumour research/support in Yorkshire, diabetes, leukaemia and lymphoma.

Gemma said the challenges had come after a testing three years which has seen two of her co-workers battle the disease.

Sadly both of Gemma’s colleagues, Phil Tunney, 38, and David Durkin, 60, died after short battles with cancer.

Previously to Phil and David’s deaths, Gemma’s close friend Tina Leake was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She was just 33-years-old when she received the devastating news in 2012.

Mum-of-one Gemma said: “I was heartbroken to see the suffering and pain of all three of my friends and their families.

“I just felt helpless as all I could do was stand by and watch.

“I began the fund-raising shortly after David and Phil passed away and it has just spiralled since then.

“I have a lot of anger towards cancer and I wanted to put all of this built up hurt to good use and so I decided to use it to fuel my fund-raising efforts.”

“Each year I try to think of bigger and better challenges I can do to raise more money.”

The epic journey down the 
country is Gemma’s big challenge this year, but she has also 
found time to book in some 
smaller, but no less tough, rides including The Dirty Reiver, a ten hour 125 mile off-road challenge. Gemma managed to navigate 
the gravel fire roads and 
single track in 11 hours 35 minutes also having to deal with two punctures. Only 279 of the 356 
riders finished the event.

She also took part in The Yorkshire Struggle, a 108 mile road ride taking in seven of the county’s biggest hills, Belam, Hartwith Bank, Greenhow Hill, Malham Cove, Park Rash, Trapping Hill and Two Stoops, climbing to approximately 9000 ft.

There has also been good news as after enduring ten months of intense chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, Tina has survived her cancer and been in remission since December 2013.

July 25 is the starting date for Gemma’s marathon challenge and to make it even tougher, her aim is to reach Lands End in just eight days, taking only a tent and with no support team.

The famous route is popular one with cyclists and even runners marking the longest distance between two inhabited British points on the mainland.

The end of her route, Land’s End in Cornwall lies 876 miles (1,410 km) to the southwest of John O’ Groats. Both ends of the route have the famous “Journey’s End” signposts, which were, until 2013, privately owned and operated by the same Penzance-based photography company, which charged a fee for having pictures taken next to it. However with the re-opening of the John O’Groats Hotel, a new permanent and free sign has been put in place.

The 37-year-old is supported by Ilkley based cycle clothing company Fat Lad at the Back. Already an ambassador for the brand after the company scouted on Facebook for volunteers to model its cycle wear, Fat Lad at the Back has provided clothing for her charity rides and will continue to back Gemma in her endeavours.

“The support I have had from Fat Lad At The Back, providing the kit I need for my cycling has really helped me achieve my goals,” she said.

Gemma is now urging others to get into the saddle and join her.

“It would be great to see others joining me on my journey, even if it was just for a short way,” she said.

“Training for this challenge has been especially difficult, however 
I’m just hoping I can just raise as much as possible and make Tina, David and Phil proud.”

To sponsor Gemma on her 1,000 mile journey go to her Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/JustGemma-Towell3.