Morecambe FC director to cycle Land’s End to John o’Groats for Parkinson’s charity

Friday, 26 May 2023 14:46

By Dave Salmon @dpsalmon

A Morecambe FC director is cycling from Land’s End to John o’Groats to raise money for Sport Parkinson’s.

James Wakefield begins the epic challenge, which will see him and friend Dave Nelson cover around 100 miles a day, for ten days, in an unsupported ride, setting off from Land’s End tomorrow (Saturday May 27).

They plan to finish on Monday, June 5.

James is raising money for Sport Parkinson’s, a charity set up by fellow Morecambe director, Charlie Appleyard.

Sport Parkinson’s leads the charge for Parkinson's Disease battlers to “keep healthy and strong until a cure comes along" by staging events throughout the year to encourage people of all abilities, experience and PD progression to try new sports and exercise regimes, to find the courage to continue or re-start sports they may have given up, all in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

Dave’s chosen charity is Finley's Touch, who raise money to provide 'Hospital Survival Bags' to children who are undergoing long stays in hospital. They also provide financial grants to their families in order to support them through these difficult times.

James said: ‘’Sport Parkinson's is a wonderful organisation set up by my brother from another mother, Charlie Appleyard, and Finley's Touch is a cause very close to Dave’s heart.

‘’We hope to collectively raise a ton of cash for both charities, whilst also ensuring that we're under as much pressure as possible not to give up and go to the pub when either the hills or saddle sores really test us.

‘’We will be carrying all our stuff in pannier bags, just to make the hills more fun. We're covering all the costs of the trip ourselves, so 100% of all donations will go straight to the charities.’’

You can donate here