Amputee finishes bus pass challenge despite burglary

A 72-year-old amputee has managed to travel hundreds of miles in his wheelchair using only his bus pass to raise money for his local rugby club, despite having to divert home part-way through when his flat was burgled.

Barry Mackleston, from Manchester, began the journey from John O' Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall on 31 March, but had to go home from Milton Keynes on the fourth day.

However, he said he managed to make up the time and complete the challenge on schedule, raising almost £7,000.

Mackleston said: "I was halfway through the challenge and it had taken months and months to plan, and the whole thing suddenly had to be turned on its head."

"I had to work out how I was going to pick the time up because I couldn't let the challenge fail... I just had to rework everything," he said.

The former public transport worker said the buses he had used were "tremendous", apart from one which could not accommodate him because he uses a wheelchair.

"But apart from that, it was frighteningly accurate," he said.

"I couldn't believe how well I'd planned it, of course, until the Thursday when it all fell to pieces.

"But even then, after that, we managed to pick the time up."

Mackleston said the amount of money people had donated to help save Wythenshawe Community Rugby Club was "staggering".

He said: "You're going through the country. You're sat on the bus and then suddenly the chairman Steve sends me a message to say, 'have you seen how much is [the fundraiser]?'.

"It's just so rewarding."

He said police had not yet made any arrests in relation to the burglary of his flat, but had managed to get some blood samples from the scene.

"If they're in the system, they will be able to find them," he added.

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