A veteran Whitehaven cyclist has made nearly £1,400 for the Asthma+Lung UK charity after cycling the height of the four highest mountain peaks in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The determined effort of 85-year-old Gerard McCarten saw him cycle the equivalent to 14,583 feet in three days.
Gerard was inspired to raise awareness of a little-known lung condition called bronchiectasis after the death of his wife, Margaret, in October 2023 from this debilitating lung condition.
He was made aware in April that July 1 this year was designated World Bronchiectasis Day so for three days he cycled for four hours each day and no further than 50 meters from his front door.
He completed 760 circuits where each circuit of 168 metres gave a height gain of 5.875 metres. His total height gain after completion of the challenge was 4,465 metres or 14,645 feet.
Whitehaven mayor Graham Roberts accepted a cheque for £1,391.25 on behalf of Asthma+Lung UK charity in a presentation at St Nicholas Church Community Centre, Whitehaven.
Presenting the cheque was Mike Cowley, Cumbria’s first Olympic Games representative. Mike competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games when he represented Great Britain in the Olympic road cycle race and the Olympic team trial. During the early 1960s Mike was a member of the Derwent Valley Wheelers.
Gerard said after the presentation that he was overwhelmed by the many supporters who donated to the online JustGiving page and the numerous donations handed to him towards Asthma+Lung UK Bronchiectasis Research fund.
