Brookie actress Paula’s Braveheart Bike Ride is set to top £100,00

Former Brookside actress Paula Frances is getting ready to lead her 12^th ‘Braveheart Bike Ride’ from Blackpool to Liverpool.

As always the 70-mile trek from the seaside town’s tower to the Liver Building is in memory of her late dad, Michael – and this year it’s set to top a total of £100,000 raised for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Paula said, “We’ll definitely smash the £100,000 this year.”

“What started from feeling utterly helpless that I couldn’t help my dad get better while living with dementia, has snowballed into something truly amazing.

“It’s not only raised money for much needed research, it’s opened up conversations, created support networks, raised awareness and grown its own community.”

She smiles: “I never thought we’d be here today, just £3,000 away from £100K. It’s amazing.”

Paula’s dad died aged 64 after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in his early 50s.

“When dad got dementia it was heartbreaking. He struggled with his speech and his memory declined and it’s tough, for the person with dementia and those around them.

“Dad lost himself and his independence and ended up needing full time care.

“Alzheimer’s is one of the top three end of life diseases in the world – and one of the worst funded.

“The hope is that we can help raise awareness of the condition and money for research to help find a cure and more medication – as well as support each other and other people who are living through it.”

The idea for the first cycle ride came after Paula took part in different charity bike rides – one from York to Amsterdam in aid of Marie Curie, and another around Hadrian’s Wall for Parkinson’s Disease, about 14 years ago.

Paula, 57, who played Diana Corkhill in Phil Redmond’s ground-breaking drama and continues to act as well as being a personal fitness trainer, explains: “The first Braveheart cycle was in 2012, and I began small with a 30 mile cycle to Southport and back from Crosby.

“Around 30 novice cyclists turned up, including a surprise arrival of about six men who knew my dad and wanted to support it – which made me cry, it was just so lovely – plus a guy called Ian Bailey from Sustrans, a UK-based charity and custodian of the then National Cycle Network.

“He wanted to offer to help the ride and him just being there was really appreciated.”

Ian went on to help mum-of-two Paula and husband Brian devise a route from Blackpool to Southport ‘because we wanted the most scenic and safest pathways’.

“Almost every year since (apart from 2020 & 2021), I’ve organised either a long distance cycle or an exercise marathon of seven hours.

“The cycle training and cycle itself never gets easier; hours and hours of non-stop cycling is tough. Brian is chief navigator on the day and I’d be literally lost without him!

“And, because it’s a group cycle, we are a team that stays together the whole way. I’ve had cyclists who simply did not make it to the end with the group because they couldn’t cope when others struggled. It’s another level of challenge, that takes character as well as fitness.”

This year’s Braveheart Bike Ride is taking place on Saturday, June 6.

She adds: “Throughout the years Braveheart has got so many people who haven’t cycled as an adult out on their bikes, improving their health and fitness. Lifelong friendships have been forged, and incredible memories are created on the day.

“There’s been an extraordinary amount of support from the wider community too. This year a separate group is planning a walk to the finish line and others have done cake sales, tombola and other fundraising events to simply show support.

“I’ve said this is the last year but never say never. I think I just need a year off to recover and plan what’s next … which means a new route is already being hatched!”