I had to do bike ride to help pal Parkinson, says Burnley old boy Hoyland (From Lancashire Telegraph)

I had to do bike ride to help pal Parkinson, says Burnley old boy Hoyland

1:20pm Saturday 28th January 2012 in News By Suzanne Geldard, Burnley FC reporter

JAMIE Hoyland stopped to catch his breath after pedalling to the top of Jeffrey Hill and looked down on the village of Chipping. His next stop.

Soft, white snowflakes melted as they met perspiration and cooled his flushed face.

It was not ideal cycling weather, and a lesser character may have been forgiven for turning round, going home and not venturing out again.

But Hoyland won’t give up. He needs to get from Land’s End to John O’Groats because that’s his goal, to help a friend and former team-mate achieve his.

After Gary Parkinson was stricken by a severe stroke in September 2010, ex-Clarets who played alongside the popular right back in the 1990s rallied round to support him in whatever way they could.

Fund-raising dinners, football and cricket matches were organised to raise money for his rehabilitation.

Parkinson’s wife, Deborah, had given up her childcare job to be on hand for her husband and their three children.

Around £70,000 has been raised in the last 16 months to support the family, buy a car that can accommodate a wheelchair and adapt the family home so that Parkinson can spend more time there – and ultimately return full time from hospital.

Because of the challenge the 44-year-old faces every day on the road to recovery, Hoyland felt it should be mirrored in their next fund-raising feat, hence the 874-mile mission.

“It will make Gary laugh, the thought of me riding almost 900 miles on a bike,” he smiled.

“But it’s a great way to keep fit out in the fresh air, although we probably won’t be saying that doing 100 miles every day!

This isn’t the first long-distance effort the former Manchester City and Sheffield United midfielder has embarked on since hanging up his boots almost 13 years ago though.

He conquered the New York Marathon in 2005, raising money for a disabled children’s charity.

“I had a drink with a friend who had done a few marathons, and I agreed to do that one with him,” he said.

“For someone as big as me whose knees are knackered, that’s a challenge in itself.”

He feels slightly more at ease with this one.

“I go cycling every year on holiday in Italy, every morning,” said Hoyland, who came up with bike ride idea.

“But that’s been it until the last three months.

“Burnley’s catering manager Chris Gibson was kind enough to lend me a bike to get the feel of it and I absolutely loved it.

“I’ve been going round the Rossendale hills and over towards Chipping.

“On one of my first rides over to Chipping it started snowing.

“If I can tackle that AND Jeffrey Hill I can probably do anything.

“I have been averaging around 30 miles so far, but the last ride I did the other Sunday I managed to get up to 60.

“We’ll be doing 100 miles a day so to get up to 60 miles in January isn’t too bad. I’m building up to it slowly.

“I was chuffed with the Chipping ride.

“I was out for about five-and-a-half hours and worked out that I burned around 4,500 calories!”

He refuelled with cups of tea and shortbread biscuits, which could well be the first thing he packs for his journey from the bottom to the top of the UK.

But he wants more than anything is sponsorship money.

“We’ve got a target for what each person should raise,” said Hoyland, who will be accompanied by nine other cyclists, including former team-mate Andy Farrell.

“We’re hoping for massive support from the football family.

“A few of the other lads have volunteered for the leg.

“I think people are going to nip in and out along the route.

“It speaks volumes for the team we had and squad we had at Burnley at the time.

“Whenever we all meet up it’s as if we are still in the dressing room together and everyone gets on fantastically.

“When this happened to Gary we were all devastated and wanted to help in whatever way we could to try to help him, and Debbie and the family, as much as we can.”

The 46-year-old added: “There are a few serious cyclists.

“They’ll probably be in Preston while I’m still pedalling away in Penzance.

“They’ll have to bear with me.”

But if all goes to plan for Burnley on the pitch, time might not be on their side, as they are due to set off a week after the season ends.

“If Burnley are involved in the play-offs,” he said.

“We’ll just have to pedal faster!”