A kind-hearted cyclist is set to travel across the north of Scotland on a unicycle to raise vital funds for two very important charities.
Luke Evison, 38, was inspired to raise money for Parkinson’s UK because his older brother, Neil, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2018 at only 44 years old. He'll also be offering a donation to Mind UK, another charity close to his heart, which has helped several people close to him.
The proud Bristolian has set a target of £2,000 as he gets ready to embark on his journey, which will begin today, Saturday (July 16) at Glencoe. His challenge will take around 12 days before he finishes up in Thurso.
Though he has family and friends in Scotland, he has decided to tackle the cycle on his own, sleeping in a tent and carrying only essential items. He hopes people will give him a wave and their support if they see him out on the road.
Luke said: “So the whole challenge is essentially riding around the North of Scotland - from Glencoe, solo and unsupported with a mixture of on-road and off-road riding, all the way up to Thurso.
"It's around 250 miles all in. It's all self-sufficient. I'll have my tent on me and any basic supplies I need like water and food. Just what I can carry."
And this isn’t the first major challenge Luke has taken on, having been in the saddle before for another incredible trek.
He added: "Last year I rode from the top of Wales, from Great Orme, Llandudno down to Barry Island at the bottom.
"Scotland is a bit like Wales' big brother in a geographical sense. It's bigger, more hilly and wilder!
"It's not impossible to do but it's more mentally draining than it is physically. When you're riding somewhere new, you've really got to focus and keep your wits about you constantly. You've got to watch out for every bump and turn in the road.
"On a bike you can free wheel so you can switch off a little bit but on a unicycle, if the wheel is moving your legs are moving so there's a different element. In that respect it's therapeutic in a way because you're just constantly in the moment but over 10 or 12 days that becomes quite tiring."
The experienced unicyclist explained that he tends to stick to smaller roads where he can, adding that if he doesn't feel safe, he'll jump off the unicycle straight away but that doesn't happen too often.
He said: "I plan my route to use as many cycle paths as I can and that's another reason why I do a bit of off-road but then there's a toss-up between what is safer, on-road or off-road in case I was to fall off.
"I'll start from Fort William and head towards Inverness. I'll then probably follow the Great Glen Way and then General Wade's Military Road along the edge of Loch Ness and then go from Inverness to Lairg and across towards Bettyhill and along the north coast before finishing up in Thurso.”
Head of regional fundraising at Parkinson’s UK, Anne Rowe, is hugely grateful for Luke taking on this amazing challenge for her charity, adding that they wish him the very best of luck.
She said: “With more than 40 potential symptoms, Parkinson’s can devastate lives. We’ve made huge breakthroughs in the last 50 years, but there is still no cure and current treatments are not good enough.
“Fundraisers like Luke help us drive forward the groundbreaking research we need to transform the lives of people with the condition.”
To support Luke’s fundraising, visit: https://www.collectionpot.com/pot/onewheel/
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