Broads Authority director embarks on 180 mile cycling marathon
Saturday August 5th, Great Yarmouth Yacht Station, 7am.
Broads Authority Director of Countryside Management Mark MacGregor cycled a 180 mile Tour de Norfolk on Saturday August 5th to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
The veteran racer with the Yorkshire based Team Marie Curie, cycled round Norfolk, starting and finishing at Great Yarmouth Yacht Station as his annual fundraiser.
The ride was particularly poignant as it was in memory of Broads Authority member Shaun Tusting and information assistant Ursel Narborough who both died from cancer this year.
Dad-to-be Mark, from Norwich, left the Yacht Station at 7am and was back by 6 pm, having averaged 18.2 mph in 10 hours ride time. He verified his mileage en route and was joined for the last 50 miles by Rob Haworth, the Broads Authority’s Head of Administration and Committee Services.
Mark has raced for various teams since 1989. He has taken part in endurance events for Marie Curie including the Etape du Tour in the Pyrenees last year and the Mountain Triathlon in the Lake District which included canoeing the length of Lake Windermere, cycling over Helvellyn and running up and down Scafell Pike, the highest footpath in the country.
Two weeks ago he took part in a 24 hour relay race in Cheshire in which his team came fourth out of 60 and was the first veteran team.
Despite this Mark says the Tour de Norfolk was his toughest challenge yet.
"I’ve never ridden this distance solidly before," he said. "People think Norfolk is flat, but there’s 3,200 ft to climb – that’s as high as Helvellyn! I‘ve done some tough things in my life but this is the toughest."
Mark followed the coast from Great Yarmouth to Kings Lynn and the county boundary to Downham Market, Thetford, Diss, Harleston, Bungay, St. Olaves and back to Great Yarmouth.
Since Team Marie Curie was founded in 1997 it has raised well over £200,000 for the charity. You can sponsor Mark on his website www.justgiving.com/tourofnorfolk.
