Mark Harris' Cycle Challenge 2020 aims to raise thousands for two local charities by cycling to every Rochdale Hornets away game

Local businessman Mark Harris will be cycling to every one of Rochdale Hornets’ away games this season to raise money for two local charities.

A former Rochdale Hornets director, Mark, 47, who is director of AAA Pest Control Services in Littleborough, will cycle hundreds of miles over the season, hopes to raise a total of £7,500 for the Hornets Sporting Foundation, which aims to get people playing rugby league more often, and Jolly Josh, an inclusive toddler group for all the family.

Mark has sponsored Rochdale Hornets for nine years, coming into his 10th season, as well as sponsoring local community teams within the borough.

He said: “Once a Hornet, always a Hornet. I’ve sponsored [Hornets] through the business for the past nine years, coming into our 10th season which I am very proud of.

“I’m a great believer of supporting local.”

Addressing his chosen charities, Mark explained: “The Hornets Sporting Foundation was a no-brainer really, with my love and passion for the team. The work the foundation does for the community throughout the borough is fantastic, not only bringing awareness of rugby league back, but bringing people together enhancing their mental and physical wellbeing whilst having fun.

“I must admit, that until I requested through social media for people to nominate a charity. I hadn’t heard of the Jolly Josh charity, and I thought if I haven’t heard of it, how many others hadn’t?

“We have so many charities doing fantastic work throughout the borough: you can’t choose them all unfortunately, and I felt that a large number are well-established and recognised, so I met with Carole [founder of Jolly Josh].”

Named after their young son, Jolly Josh was started in September 2017 by Carole and James Kelly, of Wardle, after discovering there were no groups for young disabled children in Rochdale. At the age of six months, Josh was confirmed to have ‘extensive brain damage’ due to the genetic condition Mitochondrial Disease, which causes mutations in mitochondria, vital to every cell in the body.

The stay-and-play sessions were set up with the hope to bring families together, provide peer to peer support, share experiences, and eliminate isolation, especially for children with disabilities and special needs throughout the borough.

Sadly, Josh died on 27 August 2017, just one month before his legacy, Jolly Josh, was due to begin.

After two years of sessions at Springside with Hamer Learning Community, the charity received its own home in Castleton in November 2019.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131097/jolly-josh-charity-group-receive-keys-for-new-permanent-home

Mark continued: “After listening to the story about Josh, I immediately decided I was going to attempt to raise funds for them. I am hoping this season-long challenge will raise plenty of money towards the day centre they are currently constructing on Queensway.”

The centre for Jolly Josh will be fully accessible and inclusive for all children with disabilities/complex needs/additional needs and those with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). It is estimated that it will cost around £100,000 to make the centre fit for use.

Mark’s first ride will be to Workington on the weekend of 21 and 22 March, some 140 miles away, after the first away fixture against Coventry was postponed due to the Challenge Cup.

He said: “I do like to set myself challenges that will test me, both physically and mentally, which at times have taken me above and beyond my comfort zone. The sense of achievement on completion is exhilarating whilst raising plenty of funds and awareness for great charities along the way.”

A former runner with Rochdale Harriers until 1995, Mark took up mountain biking around eight years ago with some friends from his local pub. In 2015, they completed the coast to coast mountain bike route, raising around £2,000 for various charities.

Since then, Mark has taken on many challenges for charity, from having his legs waxed to abseiling down the now-demolished Telegraph House in Rochdale centre.

Speaking about his cycle challenge, Mark said: “I’ve been battling with depression and anxiety for the past five years, that I’m aware of, but I have had great support from close family and friends, and particularly the Hornets family.

“As soon as the season fixtures came out, it pinged in my head that I would cycle to every away game. I mentioned it to CEO Steve Kerr, who looked at me with an expression of ‘are you mental, mate?’.

“I’ve done bike rides before, but I wanted something that would really challenge me, and what more than attempting to cycle to every Hornets’ regular season away game? This will bring in some big rides individually, never mind collectively, over the season.”

Grandfather of two Mark’s furthest ride will take him to South Wales, just under 250 miles away.

“There are some tough hill/mountain climbs in there. I’m aiming at covering between 60-80 miles per day, depending on how I am feeling as the Wales and London trips will take at least three days,” he added.

To support Mark and donate to his cause, please visit:

• www.justgiving.com/team/cyclechallenge