Veteran West Cumbrian cyclist Gerard McCarten, will face his most daunting challenge in his 70 years of cycling.
Out Of This World is the latest effort by the octogenarian to raise funds for West Cumbria Society for the Blind and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
Gerard’s determination to complete this extraordinary feat is deeply rooted in personal tragedy.
He will be cycling in loving memory of his wife, Margaret, who endured having severely impaired sight for more than 40 years and died on October 9 2023 after a prolonged battle with bronchiectasis, a debilitating lung condition.
The memory of Margaret’s courage and resilience will serve as a powerful motivator throughout his journey.
Adding to the poignancy of this challenge, Gerard will also be paying tribute to his daughter, Lesley, who succumbed to breast cancer last month.
The enduring love and cherished memories of both wife and daughter will be at the heart of Gerard’s efforts, driving him forward as he undertakes a remarkable challenge for his chosen charities.
At 9am on October 1, Gerard will attempt to cycle the equivalent height of Olympus Mons on Mars, the tallest mountain in the universe.
Gerard will strive to conquer a virtual ascent that mirrors the immense scale and difficulty of the Martian peak.
Olympus Mons is classified as a ‘shield volcano’. This gigantic formation rests on a base measuring 575 kilometres in diameter and rises to a height of 23 kilometres—making it nearly two-and-a-half times taller than Mount Everest.
The average gradient of Olympus Mons has been calculated to be 8%.
By remarkable coincidence, the hill Gerard has chosen for his challenge on Earth also has a gradient of 8%.
This modest hill, located just outside his home in Whitehaven, stretches for 70 metres at the base and rises to a height of 5.875 metres.
To reach the virtual summit of Olympus Mons, Gerard will need to climb the hill a total of 3,915 times. This equates to roughly 130 ascents – or 764 metres – every day throughout the month of October or two-and-a-half times to the Cumbrian summit of Cold Fell every day.
The culmination of Gerard’s extraordinary journey will take place at Jericho Primary School in Whitehaven, where he will make his final ascent during the school’s Children in Need fundraising event on Friday, November 14.
To support Gerard, donate at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gerard-mccarten-out-of-this-world
