Our Team

Andrew Nicholson

As I have already written across this website, Mark is my best friend. He is a best friend to many and a loving father and husband. To have been afflicted by this terrible disease is nothing short of cruel. But he is not alone and he is not the only one suffering.

When he told me of his condition the first thing I thought about was how can I help? After spending some time thinking about it, outside of helping Mark and his family I came up with this crazy idea to ride hundreds of miles, raise awareness and raise much needed funds for the Brain Tumour Charity.

I have ridden a number of charitable and social sportives, but none over 100 miles (in a day). I have run the London Marathon. All of these events have been in support of a cancer charity, but not the Brain Tumour Charity – this is my first time for them. I am lucky, I am healthy and I have my brother, Duncan, and my great friend Derek alongside me on this ride.

I turn 60 years old in October this year and the thought of riding between 800 and 900 miles in just over 8 days terrifies me, but it is nothing compared to what Mark and thousands of others like him are going through.

Please get behind us and donate – together we have the opportunity to make a difference.

Derek Middlemiss

When you have stood with a friend at the front of a baying Scottish crowd at Murrayfield singing ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’, two white shirts alone amongst a sea of blue.

When the two of you have danced your legs off to Green Day under Twickenham at the rugby sevens.

When you have both been jumped by a gang of drunken oiks, fought side by side and walked away shoulder to shoulder.

When you have watched someone’s children grow and shared in their triumphs and failures as if they were your own.

When you drink port with that friend early every Christmas morning because 20 years ago it seemed like a good idea.

When you know you are blessed with a friend who will not just give you an alibi, but pick up a shovel and help you bury the body.

When you have sat munching peanuts under Tower Bridge during your first major cycling event wondering how you will have the strength to finish.

When the friend next to you gives you that strength.

When one day that friend has a seizure and life changes forever.

When that friend gets diagnosed with a stage 4 Glioblastomas, an indiscriminate disease that appears to hit almost at random.

When you can only rage at your impotence to do anything meaningful to fight against the inexorable inevitability of fate.

Then despite weighing more than 18 stone, being a long way from full fitness and well into my fifties I agreed to do something to soften my feelings of impotent rage and started on our journey to ride nearly 900 miles in 9 days. Hopefully, out of this we can help fund the research to stop another family being devastated by this insidious disease.

Duncan Nicholson

My name is Duncan Nicholson and I am Andrew’s brother.  When Andrew told me about Mark’s condition it had a huge impact on me.  Having been a victim of childhood cancer myself and having been fortunate enough to come out the other side, when Andrew came to me with his ‘crazy’ idea to shine a light on this terrible disease and the shortage of research funding, I jumped at the chance to get involved.

Over the years I have done several endurance events (both on the bike and running) to raise money for cancer charities.  I have also cycled from London to Paris twice for hospices.  At 300 miles over two or three days that is a challenge. 

But it’s nothing to the near 900 miles that lies before the team.  In addition to joining Andrew and Mark on the bikes, I shall also be participating in the Great North Run on Sunday 7 September 2025 alongside Archie Lamb a friend of Mark’s Mission.   All in support of Mark’s Mission.  Please get behind the team, donate and make a difference to the lives of everyone suffering from a brain cancer.  Thank you.

Holly Howard

Physio

Holly did not hesitate to agree to offer her assistance to “Mark’s Mission” when asked to, having known Mark and family and in particular, their daughter Katie, since the day she was born. Mark and Debs are her parents closest of friends and her father being former Army has meant that Holly has to endure when they all meet up (almost weekly) Navy v Army banter and rivalry stories from Mark (Royal Navy Veteran) and her Dad almost all her life, only getting a break when they actually go to the annual Army v Navy Rugby match and leave them with a Saturday off. Despite this, she has great respect and love for Mark and is more than happy to support this incredible effort by the cyclists—who are not only friends of the family but are also riding for a truly worthy cause.

Holly is a proficient martial artist (1st Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo) having competed in many national tournaments and the last World Championship, she likes to walk and cycle and is currently studying Sports Injury and Massage at level 4 at Moulton College, Northampton.

The college, incidentally, have kindly allowed her and her friend and fellow student Emily, the time away from her studies and also have offered their assistance to provide physio support to Andy, Derek and Duncan on this challenge.

Emily Easom

Emily Easom, a dedicated student of Sports Injury and Massage at Moulton College, is thrilled to join the Mark’s Mission team, working alongside her colleague, Holly Howard. Emily was eager to contribute to this worthy cause, providing crucial physio support to the cyclists, as Mark is a very close family friend and Emily has known him from a young age. Recognising the significance of the challenge and the dedication of Andy, Derek, and Duncan, she readily agreed to offer her assistance, especially given her experiences with cancer, as she unfortunately never got the chance to meet her grandad because of this terrible disease.

Emily, along with Holly, has been granted valuable time away from her studies by Moulton College, demonstrating the college’s commitment to supporting this incredible endeavour. She is keen to apply her growing knowledge and skills to ensure the cyclists receive the best possible care.

Since she is a black belt in taekwondo and a qualified junior instructor, her passion for sports and well-being, coupled with her commitment to helping others, makes her a valuable asset to the team.

Chris Watt

Support vehicle driver

I’m Chris Watt aged 67. I retired early and have spent my time working in education and have been instrumental in the strategic growth of an educational trust which I Chair. The trust has grown from one school to now having fifteen under our umbrella.

I got involved in this as it enabled me to use my business experience and skills in helping the schools develop so that the students in our care can become the best person each of them can be.

I only met Mark relatively recently. Strangely enough it was at a Saints home match. I was there with Andrew and we made a visit to the village (the food and drink area at Saints) and introduced me to both Derek and Mark, people I had heard Andrew talk about as being his BFF’s!

He immediately struck me as a quietly spoken man but with a razor sharp sense of humour. Shortly after Mark’s diagnosis we went as a group to the rugby premiership final. I could not fail to be moved by Mark’s understated stoicism and quiet determination not to be defined by his cancer.

It is that stoicism and determination that has driven me to support Mark’s mission and help make a change.

Karen Nicholson

Marketing and Social Media

My name is Karen Nicholson.  Duncan, who is one of the ‘DADs’ taking on this challenge, is my husband.

When Andrew told us about Mark’s condition it really hit home.  Duncan has had his own experiences with cancer and both of us have only been too willing to get involved with Mark’s Mission.

While riding nearly 900 miles was very appealing (or maybe not!), the team concluded that a better use of my time and skill set was to provide the Marketing support for Mark’s Mission.  As part of that I will be co-ordinating the social media publications throughout the nine days of the Mission.  At the same time I will also be travelling in the second support vehicle throughout the ‘DADs’ journey.

I cannot express how much the Team needs everyone’s support in this most worthwhile of challenges.  Raising funds and spreading awareness of this terrible disease.  Playing my own part is very rewarding and I would invite anyone who becomes aware of Mark’s Mission to support the initiative in any way that you can.