North met south when 85-year-old charity cyclist Gerard McCarten of Whitehaven travelled to Haslemere in Surrey.
It was to meet with Macular Society community and events executive, Debbie Clarke of Andover.
The meeting had been a long time in the making having first spoke on the phone many months before in April when Gerard floated an idea.
He was planning to mark the first anniversary of the death of his wife, Margaret, in October.
Initially the aim was to combine two charities close to Margaret’s heart, Asthma + Lung UK and Macular Society.
However, a few days later it was announced that Asthma + Lung UK were to hold World Bronchiectasis Day on July 1 and a 4-day World Bronchiectasis Conference in Dundee three days later.
The decision was taken to strike while the iron was hot. Gerard split the double enterprise and completed a three-day cycling challenge by riding the height of the four highest mountain peaks in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales for Asthma + Lung UK in the first week of July.
Margaret had the lung condition, Bronchiectasis.
Faced with the problem of how to follow the Bronchiectasis challenge, and having already climbed the height of Mount Everest during training for the July event, Gerard opted to go for the world’s tallest mountain on Earth.
That mountain is Mauna Kea which is a non-active volcano in Hawaii. Although 4,205 metres above sea level its base is 6,000 metres below sea level, giving a total height of 10,205 metres.
Compared to the July challenge, when he climbed 4,446 metres in three days, a more measured approach was taken and the challenge was completed in October, though 30 metres of climbing was held back for a very special reception.
Headteacher of Whitehaven’s Jericho Primary School, James Blackwell, had taken a keen interest in the challenge and Gerard had supplied the children of Jericho with weekly updates of his progress.
The final day of riding to the virtual summit of Mauna Kea was held back until after half-term and more than 400 children were assembled within the school grounds to greet Gerard and his two cycling companions.
Throughout the challenge moral support for Gerard had been given by his long-time friends, Ged Brear a well known local cycling champion and the 1964 Tokyo Olympic rider, multi-World Championship rider and Professional cyclist, Mike Cowley.
With support from Jericho Primary School, Myers and Bowman – Toyota, Cardiosport, Hampshire and family and friends, cash was raised towards research to find a cure for a rare macular genetic condition known as Sorsby Fundus Dystrophy which had affected Margaret for over 40 years in the latter part of her life.
To say thank you to Gerard and all his supporters, a meeting was arranged in the LionsDen Café on Wey Hill in Haslemere.
For more information about Bronchiectasis call Asthma + Lung UK on 0300 222 5800 – [email protected] and Sorsby Fundus Dystrophy Macular Society on 0300 3030 111 [email protected]
