Lucas Schofield, wheelchair-bound, and his Knaresborough pal Daniel Stott are trekking nearly 900 miles for charity.
Lucas Schofield, 22 from Knaresborough, was diagnosed with Friedrichs Ataxia when just 15-years-old. A genetic, progressive, neurodegenerative movement disorder, Lucas stresses:
"My body may be shutting down but my mindset has never been stronger. My balance and mobility were the first things to go. My legs got weaker through not walking around as much and things like hand-eye-coordination goes, it affects my voice and could affect my eyesight further down the line. Things that I didn't read in the small print when I signed up."Friends and family encouraged Lucas to set out and raise awareness of this relatively rare condition and so "the push" was born. Teaming up with Knaresborough pal Daniel Stott, who has achieved the Yorkshire Three Peaks and cycled coast to coast on three separate occasions, the duo planned their John O' Groats to Land's End trek.
"The original route was about eight hundred and seventy-odd miles over sixty four days, but we had to change the route on day zero. We came up where we going to go and it was just far too hairy, narrow roads and very busy. We're now looking at close to seventy days and about nine hundred miles."[caption id="attachment_15058" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The Route[/caption] Having appeared on BBC's "Look North" before leaving home, the guys have already been enjoying some attention along Scotland's roads and even met a lady from Yorkshire who kindly made them tea and a good cooked breakfast. The route is extra challenging for both Dan and Lucas because with the wheelchair, Lucas is OK on the flat, but needs pushing up the many hills and then of course waves to Dan as he disappears down the other side! Your Harrogate's Pete Egerton will be checking in with the guys every two weeks and you can sponsor their efforts here. Listen to the full interview with Lucas and Dan below. [audio mp3="https://vouchers.yourharrogate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Push21-Full.mp3"][/audio] Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.