Newlywed's tribute to mum

8:10am Friday 29th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A NEWLYWED will take part in a motorcycle endurance race in memory of his mother.

Mary Mead, who was well-known throughout Westbury, never got to see her son Mark get married after she died in April, aged 60, from lung disease. Now Mr Mead, 36, of Bancroft, Bradford on Avon, wants to raise money in her memory by taking part in a tough three-hour race in Weston-super-Mare on October 11.

Mr Mead married Zara O'Reilly on August 16 at Trowbridge Register Office.

"My mum was so looking forward to our wedding," he said. "We were going to call it off but my dad said she wouldn't have wanted it.

"It's just knocked the whole family for six. It was a bad time. She was just two or three weeks away from retiring. She had her retirement planned. She had just bought two Yorkshire Terrier puppies."

Mr Mead has been taking part in solo motor-cross racing since he was 10 years old and thanks his parents for helping develop his love of racing. He will be racing in a motorcycle and sidecar with his friend and fellow newlywed Richard Samson on a three-mile obstacle course across sand dunes.

He said: "This race is just something to do in mum's memory. Everything she did she did for the both of us.

"She would have given us her last pound, she was that kind of person.

"She knew so many people. She worked for ULN cheese factory in Westbury."

The Weston-super-Mare Beach Race is an annual event attracting crowds of up to 100,000 people annually, who watch competitors tackle manmade jumps and sand dunes.

Money raised by Mr Mead will be donated to a charity for Lung Fybrosis and Husky Welfare.

Mr Mead said: "We wanted to support Husky Welfare because my mum used to go and support my sister who races Siberian Huskies."

Mr Mead works for Tuffnels Parcel Express on the West Wiltshire Trading Estate near Westbury, who are donating £50 towards his cause. Fast Fix Motor Cars UK in Bradford on Avon has provided him with kit, storage facilities and future maintenance while Millard Signs in Box has provided all the graphics. Magnetic Promotions, in Calne, has donated the promotional clothing.

If you would like to sponsor Mr Mead and Mr Samson call 07500 056 870 or 01225 309050.