Inspired by their friend Mark, who is living with a brain tumour diagnosis, the three DADs aim to raise huge sums for research for The Brain Tumour Charity
With support from Mark, Mark’s Mission was set up by a group of local friends Andrew Nicholson, Derek Middlemiss and Andrew’s brother, Duncan, following the devastating news in April 2024 that Mark had stage four glioblastoma, an incurable brain tumour.
The three amigos, all avid rugby fans, plan to set off from Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park, taking in every Premiership rugby stadium along the 1,500km route for their DADs’ Cycle Challenge!
They aim to raise thousands for vital research into brain tumours, inspired by their dear friend’s ongoing treatment.
Following Mark’s diagnosis, he underwent two different rounds of chemotherapy and a major seven-and-a-half-hour operation to remove most of one of his tumours. Unfortunately, as is the nature of this cruel disease, his tumours have all grown back and are larger. Mark turned 55 in October 2024, and the sad truth is that almost everyone with this type of tumour loses their battle very quickly.
The cycle challenge
Mark’s Mission aims to raise money through a series of ongoing fundraising events – their goal is not small – they hope to raise £100,000 for The Brian Tumour Charity, the world’s leading research-led brain tumour charity.
For nearly 30 years the three friends have been meeting weekly for a regular catch-up and drinks, sharing trips to the rugby – as they are all supporters of the Northampton Saints. They have participated in many bike rides together over the years, for local charities such as Cynthia Spencer and Cransley Hospice, as well as some that would be classed as a bit more of an endurance test including Ride London and London Night Rider.
This challenge starts on Friday 9th May 2025 and will see Andrew, Derek and Andrew’s brother Duncan (the DADs) taking on the enormous task of cycling nearly 900-miles in just over eight days. An epic journey that will see them visit every Premiership rugby ground starting at the home of Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park when they depart on the 9 May.
The epic UK rugby ground route
The route then takes the DADs to Leeds, Bromsgrove, Gloucester, Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Twickenham (home of the Harlequins), Hendon (home of the Saracens), Leicester (home of the Tigers) and finally ending at the home of Northampton Saints, Cinch Stadium Franklins Gardens on the 17 May, hopefully in time for kick-off and when the Saints play Saracens in their last home game of the season!
Andrew said: “My brother was seriously ill when I was 15 with life-threatening cancer and he survived. Now 44 years later, my best friend is seriously ill and he won’t survive. I have an understanding of what Mark, his wife Debs, and children George and Katie, are going through and if I start to worry about how I am feeling I just think of them.”
“Mark is my inspiration; his stoicism and positive outlook made me realise that we had to do something and hence I came up with the idea for Mark’s Mission and this massive challenge that is the bike ride. If during the event I start to doubt my ability to finish I will just close my eyes and picture Mark and that image will help me turn the pedal again and keep going”
“I hope that we keep pushing the profile and keep telling people about this horrific disease so that others might not suffer and eventually we find a cure.”
“If there is one thing I am looking forward to it will be doing this with my brother Duncan and my good friend Derek. The sense of achievement will be huge and something that I think I will look back on with immense pride. We are doing this, I am doing this, for Mark and everyone like Mark who are suffering at the hands of this horrific disease. If we can make a difference wouldn’t that just be great?”
Duncan said: “When Andrew told me about Mark’s condition it had a huge impact on me. I was a victim of childhood cancer and was fortunate to come out the other side. As a result, I have some understanding of the impact of Mark’s diagnosis.
“The knowledge of what I went through and what Mark and his family are going through inspires me to support this cause and to ignore the pain when the going gets tough which it inevitably will when you consider what the team is undertaking.”
“What am I looking forward to most? The sense of achievement knowing that what we are undertaking is in support of such a worthy cause will be huge. This is for Mark and for anyone who is impacted by this indiscriminate disease. If we can shine a light, raise funds and make even the smallest difference it shall all be worth it.”
Derek said: “As the event comes closer and moves from being something distant to being almost upon us I think I realize the enormity of what we are attempting, going from an 18 stone bloke who rarely cycled anymore to attempting the cycling equivalent of nine marathons in nine days is a touch daunting.
“However there are some questions in life where the answer can never be no, when Andy raised the possibility of this challenge this was one of those times. I remember we were sat in my living room with Mark’s diagnosis fresh and the news getting worse every day, when Andy opened with the immortal line ‘of course you don’t have to join me but I have a really stupid idea…’
“My feelings going into the final stretch of training and prep, are more nervous anticipation more than anything and if everything starts getting to much, I simply remember how much Mark would dearly love to be feeling the pain in his legs (or other regions) rather than living with his diagnosis.”
Find out more and donate to Marks Mission here.
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 as well as raise awareness of brain tumour symptoms and effects to bring about earlier diagnosis.
The Charity also provides support for everyone affected so that they can live as full a life as possible, with the best quality of life.
Find out more via The Brain Tumour Charity website here.
