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NEWS BRIEFS
EX-AYCLIFFE PUBLICAN
SMASHES CHARITY
TARGET
Owen Dawson is hoping to raise £1,000 for
charity by taking on the Fred Whitton Challenge
CYCLIST TARGETS
£1K CHARITY CHALLENGE
A Newton Aycliffe man has been
accepted to take on a prestigious
cycling event.
Owen Dawson, from School
Aycliffe, will take part in ‘The
Fred Whitton Challenge’, which
takes place on 11th May.
The cycle involves a grueling
112-mile long route throughout the
Lake District with 25% inclines.
Owen’s aim is to raise £1,000 for
Macmillan Cancer Support, and he
has already managed to raise just
over £600 through his ‘Just Giving’
page.
“One-in-three people get cancer,
and it’s this shocking statistic
which really makes people put their
hands in their pocket,” said Owen.
When getting back into cycling
three years ago Owen hoped to
lose some weight and improve his
fitness levels.
Now, two-and-a-half stone lighter,
he’s ready to take on the UK’s
ultimate cycling challenge, saying:
“I’m looking forward to it; I’m
apprehensive but eager.”
Since then Owen has cycled an
impressive 8,000 miles, which are
all trackable on his strava page.
These 8,000 miles include
completing the Coast-2-Coast
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By Chloe McKenna
cycling event twice along with 146mile Yorkshire Wolds Challenge
and the Coast and Castles route
from Newcastle to Edinburgh.
In anticipation of his newest
challenge Owen has splashed
out on a new ‘105 group set’ for
his bike, which meant new chain,
mechanics and pedals.
The only original part remaining
on his bike is the frame.
Owen will face climbs of up to
13,000ft over every one of the
main passes in the Lake District
(Kirkston, Honistor, Newlands,
Whinlatter, Cold Fell, Hardknott and
Wrynose) where 2,060 riders will be
joining him.
Whilst riding Owen plans to
update the people who have
sponsored him through social
media sites such as Insta