Jess's bike 150km bike ride in tribute to grandfather
A schoolgirl has taken on a massive fundraising cycling challenge in memory of her late grandfather.
Jess Lakin from Barlaston, in Staffordshire, has completed a 150 kilometre ride to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK, having seen her grandfather John die from the illness earlier this year, aged 76.
Jess, who is in sixth form at Stafford Grammar, decided to ride the length of the Trent and Mersey canal on a static exercise bike, having enjoyed holidays on the canal with John.
The 17-year-old said: “My grandparents house backs onto the canal in Trentham and Grandad loved walking along the towpath.
“They used to have a canal boat and I have so many lovely childhood memories of being on the canal and helping to steer the boat or work the locks with him.”
Jess has raised more than £1,000 from friends and family, many of whom knew John and were unable to attend his funeral due to lockdown restrictions.
Jess, a keen hockey player, completed the ride over two days at home and spoke about how she got through it, despite not being a regular cyclist.
She said: “I’m not at all used to biking, but I did 95k on the first day and 55 on the second.
“It was really tiring, but I was motivated because I was doing it in memory of Grandad and for charity.
“My target was to raise £250 for Parkinson’s UK, but within the first few hours, I changed that because the response was so great.”
The Trent and Mersey Canal is one of the major canal ways in the country, running from the River Trent at Derwent Mouth in Derbyshire to Preston Brook in Cheshire, passing through most of Staffordshire.
Comprising 76 locks, it connects the river Mersey with the River Trent and connects to six different canals along the way, including the Staffordshire and Worcester and the Shropshire Union canal.
To find out more about Jess’s ride and to make a donation, go to gofundme.com/f/parkinson039s-bike-ride
