Local man, Christian Okun will be taking on the North Coast 500 next month in memory of his baby son who passed away in 2020, aged just three months old.
Franklin was born in February 2020, his parents Christian and Katelyn described him as 'simply perfect'.
However, tragedy struck in May that year when Franklin stopped breathing whilst staying with his grandparents.
Quick-thinking grandparents did all they could for Franklin and when ambulance and air ambulance crews arrived at the scene, they mananged to get his heart beating again. Franklin was transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children where he stayed until his parents had to let him go on the 2nd June 2020.
Since then, Christian and Katelyn have been busy raising funds with various challenges and other fundraisng activities, creating a page to follow their progress on Facebook - Fitness for Franklin.
In 2021 they took on 4 hours of nonstop fitness classes and in 2022 Christian cycled London to Paris on a mountain bike. So far they've raised about £9000.
Christian told us: "This really is every parents worst nightmare and that is why we will do our annual fundraising events as without the charities involved we wouldn’t have had the chance to say goodbye to our precious boy, and for that we are forever grateful."
The NC500 Bike Ride is a 516-mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle. The route can be done in 5 or 7 days and just to make his life harder - Christian has opted to do it in 5 days. He said: "I haven’t ridden 100 miles in one go before, let alone attempt to do it 5 days in a row. As Del boy used to say, 'he who dares, wins'! "
Chirstian will start the challenge on 28th May and finish on 1st June - raising money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and The Bristol Royal Hospital For Children.
If you'd like to support this fundraisier you can donate here : https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Chris-NC500-2024
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