Three lifelong friends from Kirkby Lonsdale are preparing to take on the UK's most gruelling cycling sportive to honour the memory of a beloved local. Luke Duckworth, Jamie Mainwaring, and Sam Wild will tackle the notoriously tough Fred Whitton Challenge on May 10, pedalling 180 kilometres across the Lake District to raise vital funds for The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of their friend, Dave Schofield.
Dave was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2020 and passed away in November 2024, just days before his 35th birthday. On May 10, Luke, Jamie, and Sam, who attended Queen Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale with Dave, will take on the challenge, which involves 180 kilometres of cycling with over 3,500 metres of elevation gain in a single day. Their goal is to raise funds and awareness for brain tumour research in his memory.
Radiating Positivity
Luke Duckworth, from Kirkby Lonsdale, described Dave as an incredible person with an insatiable zest for life and infectious energy. "He was always the first and the last on the dance floor, completely unashamedly himself," Luke said. "After his diagnosis, Dave decided to squeeze everything he could out of life and not let cancer get in the way of having a good time. He travelled the world with his fiancée Emily, attended festivals, sang karaoke, and brought our friendship group closer together. We coined the phrase 'Be More Dave' - say yes, don't be embarrassed, and make the most of life. For this challenge, we have 'Be More Dave' stickers on our handlebars to remind us to keep going."
Determined Trio
The Fred Whitton Challenge is renowned as one of the UK's most demanding cycling sportives. Riders tackle famous climbs including Kirkstone, Honister, Hardknott, Wrynose, and Blea Tarn passes, all in a single day. Luke acknowledges the scale of the challenge: "The hardest part is how steep the hills are, and they keep coming. I have had nightmares about Hardknott Pass. I started from a very low base and have been building up with longer rides and hill training. It is going to take me a long time - the aim is simply to finish. Sam and Jamie are more accomplished cyclists and still live in Kirkby Lonsdale, so they have proper hills for training. They will be several hours ahead and will have a few beers by the time I finish. Doing this in Dave's memory is a massive motivator, and knowing we are raising money for such an important cause will help when it gets tough."
The trio has already raised over half of their £10,000 target. Luke Duckworth is fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity. He said: "Seeing how Dave's life was snatched away at just 34 feels incredibly unfair, but we are determined to turn that loss into something positive. As we started fundraising, many people reached out to say how close this cause is to their heart. The statistics remain shocking: brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK for children and adults under 40, and only 12.9 per cent of adults with brain cancer survive beyond five years. We want to help change that through fundraising and by getting people talking about it."
Nadia Whitmore from The Brain Tumour Charity's community fundraising team said: "A huge thank you to Luke, Jamie, and Sam for their determination and hard work preparing for their cycle challenge. Every day in the UK, 35 people hear the words 'you have a brain tumour', and unlike other cancers, survival rates have not improved over the last 40 years. We are leading the way in changing this and fighting brain tumours on all fronts. It is through the incredible efforts of Luke, Jamie, and Sam that we can change these shocking statistics and bring hope to the thousands of people diagnosed with a brain tumour every year."
The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK's largest dedicated brain tumour charity, committed to fighting brain tumours on all fronts. It funds pioneering research to increase survival and improve treatment options, raises awareness of symptoms for earlier diagnosis, and provides support for everyone affected. For more information, visit the charity's website.
