Amputee's Wheelchair Bus Trip Raises £7,000

A 72-year-old amputee named Barry Mackleston has completed an extraordinary fundraising journey from John O' Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall, traveling hundreds of miles in his wheelchair. He utilized his bus pass for the entire trip, aiming to raise vital funds for the Wythenshawe Community Rugby Club. This challenging endeavor began on March 31st and concluded as scheduled, despite an unexpected disruption.

Partway through his journey, Mackleston had to divert home from Milton Keynes due to a burglary at his flat. He described the incident as having to "turn the whole thing on its head," requiring significant reworking of his plans to regain lost time. He praised the public transport system, noting its "frighteningly accurate" service apart from one instance where his wheelchair was not accommodated.

The fundraising effort garnered significant support, raising almost £7,000. Mackleston expressed his astonishment at the "staggering" amount donated, finding the support incredibly rewarding as he traveled across the country. Police are investigating the burglary, with blood samples collected from the scene. Mackleston remains hopeful that the perpetrators will be identified and apprehended.