Third Tour de Aky in memory of North Yorkshire Police officer
Mick 'Aky' Atkinson was a dog handler with the force and served for 17 years prior to his death.
Nearly 100 riders are taking part in a charity bike ride today (17 July) in memory of a North Yorkshire Police officer who took his own life.
The 'Tour de Aky' was created in memory of Mick 'Aky' Atkinson, who died in October 2018.
He had been off work due to knee problems for 18 months, but showed no signs of struggling with his mental health, his sister Lynsey Atkinson, told Greatest Hits.
She said: "There was nothing at all with Mick and we were out just a few hours beforehand. It was a huge shock for all his family and friends.
"This is a big, strong, manly man who never showed any signs at all and we thought it was important that people know that because people always think it won't happen to you but it did for us.
"But we wanted to do something to keep his memory alive and to remember him for who he was and not how we lost him."
The cyclists are travelling 106.6 miles starting and finishing at Hunslet Warriors in Leeds, where Mick used to coach, stopping off at Scarborough, York and other places with important links to him.
The distance chosen is in reference to Mick’s police collar number, which was PC1066.
Lynsey, said: "Don't get me wrong it is hard sometimes when something pops up or you see his face in a photo but I think for a lot of his friends, not just his family, this event keeps his memory alive and it's something for them to remember him by.
"We made that decision that we were going to speak up because we didn't want any family to go through what we have been through and are still going through.
"I think it's not until you stand up and explain how it does impact that people will listen and start to talk about it more.
"Even helping a few more families so they don't have to go through what we're going through then that'll mean that his death wasn't for nothing. At times you cling onto the fact that he is helping others."
Over £40,000 has been raised by the group through the various fundraising events which family and friends have organised and they're hoping to pass the £50,000 mark this time round.
Each year they choose different charities with this year donating to Mind, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and MacMillan Cancer.
It was unknown whether the ride would be able to go ahead this year with Covid, but with restrictions easing over the last few months they've been able to get the green light.
Lynsey, added: "It has been really up in the air with Covid. We've been lucky that with everything going we've actually got more riders than ever before; I think we've got about 95 taking part.
"I think as it has gone on year by year you do worry that it might dwindle but actually it's growing and we get people messaging us and thanking us saying it has happened to them or someone close to them and it's helped them."
You can donate to the Go Fund Me page here.