A DUKINFIELD motorcyclist is preparing to put years of endurance riding experience to the test as he takes on a gruelling 1,000-mile challenge in aid of Francis House Children’s Hospice.
Mark Towler, a licensed aircraft engineer and member of the Iron Butt Association, will set off from his home at 2am on Saturday, August 1, aiming to complete the mammoth solo journey in less than 24 hours while raising £5,000 for the Didsbury-based charity.
An experienced long-distance rider, the 64-year-old has completed multiple SaddleSore rides and travelled extensively across Europe by motorcycle.
His latest challenge will take him from Dukinfield to Scotland and back, passing through Dumbarton, Fort William, Inverness, Wick, John O’Groats, Thurso, Perth, Edinburgh and Jedburgh before returning to Hyde via the Woodhead Pass.
He is expected to finish at Jack’s Bar on Hamnet Street at around 6.30pm.
Mark said: “To prepare for the gruelling physical toll, I have been averaging 700 miles per week over the last fortnight to dial in my bike fitness and endurance.
“Community momentum is building rapidly. Alongside fundraising help from Steph and her family at The Gwalchmai Hotel in Anglesey, we have received fantastic backing from Clare Rowbotham and her generous customers at Jack’s Bar on Hamnet Street, Hyde, who are all helping to fill the donation pots.”
The challenge comes a decade after Mark and fellow biker David Meredith joined the Iron Butt Association after passing their entrance test in June 2016.
Together, the pair have completed several demanding rides, including the “Four Corners of the UK” challenge, covering 1,425 miles in 23 hours and 55 minutes. This time, however, Mark will be riding alone while David, 59, recovers from major spinal surgery.
‘I am pushing myself to the absolute limit’
Mark hopes his ride will raise vital funds for Francis House Children’s Hospice, which supports families from across Greater Manchester, including Tameside, through physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual care.
The hospice must raise £5.8 million each year through charitable donations to continue providing its services free of charge.
Explaining why he chose to support the charity, Mark said: “While hospitals focus on curing illness, Francis House focuses entirely on the care of children and young people for whom a cure is unlikely. They provide comfort, dignity, and high-quality clinical care, alongside essential short-term rest and bereavement support for their families.
“Because their life-changing services are provided completely free of charge, they rely almost entirely on donations to survive.”
Mark is covering all of the costs associated with the ride himself, meaning every donation will go directly to the hospice.
He said: “To help them, I am pushing myself to the absolute limit. A 1,000-mile journey in a single day requires relentless focus, physical endurance, and round-the-clock navigation. It mirrors the exhausting, non-stop reality faced by the families Francis House supports every single day.”
Mark added: “Pushing through the night on August 1 will be tough, but knowing I have the community’s backing will keep my wheels turning.”
People wishing to support Mark’s challenge can donate through his JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-towler-1
Donations of £10 could help fund play therapy materials, while larger contributions could help provide meals, respite care and specialist nursing support for families staying at the hospice.