Charity Bike Ride in Scarborough To Honour North Yorkshire Police Officer

Friends of a North Yorkshire police officer who took his own life are, once again, preparing to honour him with a charity bike ride.

The 106.6 mile route is in reference to Mick Atkinson's police collar number - PC 1066 - who started his career in Scarborough.

It is the second year friends, family and former colleagues have taken to their bikes, travelling from Leeds, to Scarborough, then Filey.

Pierre Olesqui, a friend of Mick's, organised the event and said:

"Mick as a North Yorkshire dog handler. I think he spent 18 years in North Yorkshire Police.

"He loved his job and he got some injuries with his knees which forced him to take some sick leave and unfortunately in October 2018, he took his own life.

"We're very passionate about what the Tour de Aky represents; obviously the memory of Aky, helping to raise awareness about mental health, we have the slogan of 'it's OK not the be OK' and raising money for the chosen charities which are Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Mind and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Pierre explains the route:

"Scarborough is where he and I met, it's where he started the police force. We move onto Filey Golf Course and then obviously lots of other places such as York Police Station and Leeds, especially his mum and dad's, who I'm very close to."

Acting Sergeant Paul Cording worked with Mick and said:

"If somebody has a broken leg, you can see their broken leg and people will ask you about it and talk about it.

"Whereas, if somebody is suffering from poor mental health, if people don't undestand it, they sometimes don't want to talk about it.

"It's really about getting the key message across that it's OK not to be OK."