I (Tony Bradley) have entered this year’s Fred Whitton Challenge http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/ which riders rank alongside European Events such as the Marmotte in terms of difficulty. The challenge consists of a 112 mile sportive around the Lake District starting at Grasmere and taking in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose passes and takes place on the 8th of May '16. 

I am riding the event in memory of Ian Long who sadly passed away this year on the 7th of January.

I first met Ian when I went to work for the Yorkshire Regional Health Authority in 1987; subsequently I was with Ian during my time at DSSR in Harrogate. In total I worked with Ian for 17 years and I am indebted to him, together with Ken Taylor and Dennis Bastow, for their guidance through my formative years in a design office and subsequently when working for them as a part of their teams. 

Ian was a great bloke; he was a superb Dad to Alison and Sarah, and a wonderful Husband to Lesley. He is greatly missed.

I am raising money for Saint Michael's Hospice in Harrogate and Macmillan Cancer Support. I am trying to get as many people as possible to sponsor me for £1, and my target is 500 people.

What I would ask is: if you worked, or knew Ian in any capacity, or myself (Tony Bradley, and I am not bothered if you liked or disliked me hated me or were totally ambivalent towards me); please sponsor me for £1 in
memory of Ian, that’s all.

As I mentioned earlier my intention is to ride this sportive in Ian’s memory and if I can manage to get 500 people to just say “yes I remember Ian” and give me a quid it may just mean that Ian’s family realise that their Dad, Grandad and Husband really was a wonderful man, not just to them, but to a lot of people, many of whom the family may never have known.

Many thanks

Tony Bradley