Martin Orton, formerly Keegan, from Shildon took to his bike at Land’s End on 13 July at 10.30am to set off on the journey to John O’Groats.
The date and time was no coincidence. It was precisely a year to the minute from his beloved grandad’s passing. Leonard ‘Len’ Orton, tragically took his own life last year, aged 85.
Just two weeks earlier, Martin received official notice that his application to change his surname to Orton by Deed Poll, out of respect and love for his grandparents, had been accepted.
And so it is that on the first anniversary of Len’s passing, Martin set off on his fundraising journey north in aid of local mental health charity, MEND (Men Empowering New Direction).
“In 2024, I decided to change my surname to Orton as a tribute to my grandparents and the enormous influence they had on my life,” wrote Martin on his JustGiving page. “Sadly, I never got the opportunity to tell them that I had made that decision.”
“From the age of six,” he continues, “I can remember watching my grandad fix things. Whether it was taking apart an old Ford Cortina while I sat watching from the empty engine bay, or helping me with yet another project car I had brought home, he always encouraged my curiosity and passion for engineering. Looking back, I realized that my love of fixing things wasn’t something I chose – it was something I inherited.”
Over the years, Martin has taken part in several fundraising adventures across the globe, from trekking across Lapland to running an ultramarathon, in South Africa, as well as closer to home, abseiling down St John’s Church ten times in one day.
As hair-raising as some may sound, his journey up the country has possibly proved the most dangerous yet. Passing through Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, Martin was hit by a car and thrown over the bonnet.
Fortunately, the damage to Martin was less than it could have been, albeit he suffered a fractured hand as a result.
While the incident and injury knocked his confidence somewhat and delayed his initial target of completing the ride in nine days, it hasn’t stopped him – he has charged on, determined to complete his aim.
When he called the Town Crier, just before the paper went to press, he was just shy of Aviemore and thankful of the typically Scottish weather.
“The worst part of the journey so far – apart from the accident – has been the weather,” he said. “It was red hot all last week, which has meant carrying extra water and weight.
“So, I’m glad for the overcast conditions and 12-15 degree temperatures.”
Returning to his cause, Martin reiterated the devastating consequences of mental health illness on his JustGiving page: “Unfortunately, last year I lost the most influential person to suicide. A mental illness that went unnoticed until its effects became sudden and devastating.
“Mental health is something I never fully understood and, if I’m honest, something I never thought would affect me personally until it did.
“We need to talk more openly about mental health. Sharing our experiences and feelings can help others understand what someone may be going through, recognize the signs that someone is struggling, and encourage people to seek support when they need it.”
You can help Martin’s funraising efforts by visiting his JustGiving page.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
