Land’s End to John O’Groats

The challenge of a lifetime

A grieving son is raising money for Alzheimer’s Society by taking on the challenge he

promised his dad he would tackle WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

When a teenager travelled to Land’s End with his dad, he was told he’d now been to the southernmost tip of the UK. And when his dad took him to John o’Groats in Scotland, he told him he’d now been to the northernmost tip of the UK. After Chris Marr told his son Miles that people cycle from one end to the other, Miles swore one day he’d do it too.

After the passing of his dad last year, Miles decided there’s no time like the present. Now, aged 35, the service manager will cycle the almost-1000-mile distance between Land’s End and John o’Groats with his girlfriend Sophia. The pair will set off on August 22.

Their cycling challenge has raised £1,370 so far for Alzheimer’s Society from monetary and item donations which Miles has auctioned. Alzheimer’s Society cared for Chris when he was diagnosed with dementia aged 65. He lived with the disease until his death five years later.

“It really amazed me the support they gave to my parents,” Miles said. “When an advisor came round, it was a weird time because dad had just been diagnosed but was OK so it was quite scary for him. They were really reassuring and helped fill in forms to apply for pension credit and carers allowance, which they weren’t aware of and really would have struggled without.

“People assume it affects your memory, but it attacked my dad’s logic. He could remember things from the week and from 20 years ago, but he couldn’t make a cup of tea. He ran two businesses in his life and could build a car from scratch, so to see him deteriorate was awful.”

In preparation for the twoweek charity challenge, Miles has been riding to work and back every day as well as 25-mile rides in the week, and 50-60-mile rides at the weekend, pushing himself further each time.

“We’ll need to be travelling around 80 miles a day, which will probably take eight to 10 hours with all our gear, not to mention getting lost now and then!” They’ll be staying at camping sites until they can wild-camp in Scotland.

If you or someone you know is affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Miles recommends reading Dementia: The One-Stop Guide by June Andrews. He added: “The first port of call is getting a diagnosis. Remember, it’s not a death sentence. My dad could still come to car shows with me. He couldn’t express things anymore, so I would sit with him and tell him my plans for the year and, if nothing else, it was cathartic for me. Focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t, you never know how much time you have.”

Scan the QR code to donate at Miles’ Just Giving page.

Follow Miles’ journey on Instagram @miles_onabike.

MILES HAS BEEN RIDING TO WORK AND BACK EVERY DAY AS WELL AS 25-MILE RIDES IN THE WEEK