A former professional rugby player, who represented Ireland at under-20 level, has begun an 18,000-mile (30,000km) cycle around the world to raise £50,000 for charity
Ciaran Booth and his girlfirend Lucy Pickersgill, both 26, set off from Manchester Rugby Club in Stockport and plan to travel through about 30 countries over 18 months
The challenge was inspired by Ciaran’s mother, Annie Booth, who has Parkinson’s disease, and said sport and exercise had helped her both physically and mentally
Advertisement
Advertisement
Annie said she was “really proud” of the couple and described their journey as “shining a light on what’s possible” for people living with the condition
Ciaran said his mother had found “loads of strength in community through sport” following her diagnosis, including through the charity Sport Parkinson’s
He said Sport Parkinson’s encouraged people with the condition to exercise and find support through a community
‘Get fit on the job’
Despite Ciaran’s background in professional sport, the pair describe themselves as beginner cyclists
Lucy had only begun cycling seriously in the months leading up to the trip, with the couple expecting to average about 100km (62 miles) a day
Advertisement
Advertisement
“You can’t really train for something like that,” she said
Ciaran said they planned to “get fit on the job” as they travelled through Europe before continuing towards India, Nepal and China, then South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, followed by Canada and the US
Their heavily-laden bikes carry everything they expect to need on the trip, including a tent, sleeping bags and cooking equipment
He said they would rely on their camping equipment, joking they could sometimes end up “sleeping in a bush on the side of the road somewhere”
Lucy added: “If you see us, give us a packet of crisps or something.”
The couple spent about a year preparing for the journey, including arranging visas, vaccinations and equipment
Advertisement
Advertisement
Lucy said that after the intensity of planning, life on the road would become much simpler
“It’s a case of: Where are we going to sleep? Have we got enough water? What are we going to eat?” she said
But she added there was one part of the trip that was “already fixed”
Lucy is maid of honour at her best friend’s wedding – which is taking place in Cyprus – and said they needed to cycle there by the end of October
Ciaran represented Ireland at under-20 level and said he went on to spend seven years as a professional rugby player, with the couple’s website listing Sale Sharks, Connacht Rugby and Jersey Reds among his former clubs
Advertisement
Advertisement
He chose Manchester Rugby Club as the starting point because he began playing there aged four
“It felt kind of a full circle moment to sort of close a chapter of my life and start the next one with the person that I love next to me,” he said
They are also taking reminders of Manchester with them, including a crocheted bee – named Meryl, after Lucy’s 96-year-old grandmother – attached to Lucy’s bike
Annie said Sport Parkinson’s had helped her “in so many different ways, mentally and physically”
She has taken part in walking football and said the organisation supported her as she went on to play for an England Parkinson’s walking football squad
Advertisement
Advertisement
She admitted she would miss her son “dreadfully” while he was away but said she was focusing on the purpose behind the journey
“As a mum, regardless of Parkinson’s, your heart and your head say different things sometimes,” she said
“But I’m very pleased that they’re living out this dream and they’re going to raise some incredible money for Sport Parkinson’s.”
Listen to the best ofBBC Radio Manchester on Soundsand follow BBC Manchester onFacebook,X, andInstagram. You can also send story ideas
