Your Harrogate Radio

7:00pm - 8:00am

Email the studio

Technotronic

Pump Up The Jam

Listen Live Podcasts

Your Harrogate backs return of Tour de Aky in memory of police officer

Friday, 2 February 2024 09:00

Your Harrogate is sponsoring the shirts for the Tour de Aky 2024, an event held annually in memory of PC Mick 'Aky' Atkinson.

Your Harrogate backs return of Tour de Aky in memory of police officer Your Harrogate is proud to be supporting the annual Tour de Aky charity event when it returns later this year. The event was launched in 2019 by PC Pierre Olesqui in memory of his best friend and police colleague PC Mick ‘Aky’ Atkinson. Mick sadly took his own life in 2018 following struggles with his mental health. Pierre has been organising the Tour de Aky every year since, travelling 106.6 miles as a nod to Aky’s collar number. The event has raised more than £76,000 for various charities. And this year, Your Harrogate is proud to be sponsoring the shirts that participants will be wearing for the event on 13th July. [caption id="attachment_71618" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Tour de Aky in 2023.[/caption] The Tour de Aky 2024 will be again be fundraising for MIND, Andy’s Man Club and Yorkshire Air Ambulance after raising more than £10,000 for the charities in 2023. Pierre told Your Harrogate:

“Aky was a police dog handler and a massive personality. I just wanted to remember and honour him. “We go to locations that had importance to him. This year includes Elland Road - he was a massive Leeds fan - Headingley Stadium, his school, family home and police stations he worked at.”

The route will start in Woodlesford, the village where Aky grew up, and includes a visit to Your Harrogate’s studio before moving on to York Police Station. Pierre added:

“Your Harrogate has been absolutely fantastic so I’ll be so proud to have them on my shirt this year. “The basis of it is about mental health and talking. If you’re on a bike for eight hours, I challenge anyone to not talk! “The slogan ‘it’s okay to not be okay’ but the ride is only successful because of the support we’ve received.”

If you’d like to support the Tour de Aky 2024, donate via the GoFundMe page or find out more on Facebook here. Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

More from Local News

Storm Bert brings snow disruption

Amber and yellow weather warnings are currently in place as storm Bert sweeps in across the region.
Painting by local artists unveiled at Harrogate Hospital

A new work of art created collaboratively by local artists Paul Mirfin and Andrew Copley, has been unveiled in Harrogate District Hospital's Phlebotomy department.
Theme revealed for Great Knaresborough Bed Race 2025

Organisers of the annual Great Knaresborough Bed Race have revealed the theme for next year’s event.
Harrogate's North Pole Post Office returns for festive season

Harrogate's North Pole Post Office has returned for a fifth year, allowing children to post letters to Father Christmas.
Grants still available to improve shop fronts and accessibility in Harrogate

A small number of match funding grants are still available to improve shop fronts and accessibility for BID Member businesses in Harrogate.
Details revealed for Otley Christmas lights switch on

Otley’s Christmas lights are set to be switched on next week to signify the official start of the festive season.
Harewood House stars in new national Range Rover advert

Harewood House has featured in a national ad campaign for the new Range Rover Sport.
Molly-Mae Hague spotted at luxury Ripon hotel

Social media influencer and reality TV star Molly-Mae Hague has been spotted enjoying a luxury stay at one of the finest hotels in the Harrogate district.
Super volunteer clocks up 200 hours of community work at just 14

A super volunteer from Ripon has clocked up a remarkable 200 hours of community work at the age of just 14.
Harrogate Theatre's Beauty and the Beast set to open next week

Get ready for a tale as old as time this Christmas.
Light up a Life service returns to children's hospice

People from across the Harrogate district are being invited to join Martin House Children’s Hospice for its Light up a Life service next month.
Ripon Food and Gift Fair to return tomorrow

Ripon’s annual Christmas Food and Gift Fair returns to the city's cathedral tomorrow (Friday).
Roads around Ripon market square to reopen following resurfacing

The roads around Ripon's Market Square are reopening today (Thursday) following resurfacing work.
Italian restaurant in Harrogate named among UK's top 100

An Italian restaurant in Harrogate town centre has been named among the best in the UK.
Trains struck 97 objects in past year – with some items 'deliberately' placed on tracks

Northern services across the North struck 97 objects in the past year, with some items 'deliberately' placed on the track.
Ripon businesses set to host late night shopping event

A number of businesses across Ripon are hosting a late night shopping event next week.
Harrogate woman with MND creates charity recipe calendar

A Harrogate resident living with motor neurone disease (MND) has created a recipe calendar to fundraise for charity.
How Harrogate health and wellbeing services have helped transform lives

Customers of one of Harrogate's three community-based leisure hubs have spoken of the diverse range of classes which are helping their health and wellbeing.
Harrogate Food and Drink Festival to return to Ripley for sixth year

The ever-popular Harrogate Food and Drink Festival will be returning to Ripley for a sixth year, organisers have confirmed.
New denture clinic opens in Harrogate

A new denture clinic has opened on Otley Road in Harrogate.