Father and son, Andy and Calum Leighton, aged 43 and 13 respectively, donned their cycling shoes and shorts over the summer to take part in the John Leighton End to End in August to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK. They managed to rise over £4,000 and also completed a ride Andy had started with his own father, John Leighton, many years before.

Andy and Calum cycled 700 miles in memory of John, who had Parkinson’s, he passed away on Christmas Day, 2016. He would have been 78 in January this year. John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 15 years ago.

Andy told the Ross Gazette: “As well as a keen cricketer, co-founding Aston Ingham Cricket Club in 1976, becoming the first captain, then Chairman and latterly President of the club, my Dad was a keen cyclist. He often talked about cycling the ‘End to End’ from Land’s End to John O’Groats, but never quite got round to organising it. We did however cycle from Land’s End to our home in Aston Ingham when I was 14-years-old. I therefore decided to complete the journey in his memory with my son, Calum, and to raise money for Parkinson’s.

Andy explained that the Parkinson’s UK Hereford and District Branch provided invaluable support to his parents over many years, helping them deal with the impact of Parkinson’s on everyday life.

He said that even after being diagnosed his Dad continued to enjoy many cycle trips with his wife on their tandem, having it converted to a tricycle several years ago to prolong the enjoyment well into his 70s.

Callum and Andy used the tricycle tandem for the trip which attracted many intriguing, as well as admiring, looks. Andrew continues: “My abiding memory of cycling from Land’s End with my Dad 29 years ago, also on a tandem, was cycling along a very busy A30 in Cornwall in the pouring rain! I couldn’t plan the weather but was keen to avoid the main roads, so I planned a route taking advantage of the now extensive network of Sustrans Cycle routes along quiet country lanes, old railway lines and canals.

“My daughter Darcey, aged 10, was also keen to participate and cycled 80 miles over one and a half days. Brothers Philip and Colin also joined us on their bicycles in the final few days, along with my Mum and wife, Ursula, in the support vehicle, completing the family reunion in John O’Groats.”

Paul Jackson-Clark, Director of Fundraising at Parkinson’s UK, said: “I’d like to say a big thank you and congratulations to Andrew and Calum. I hope their story will inspire others to sign up for one of our other fundraising events that happen throughout the year. See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here