Mackenzie Construction supports 800-mile Doddie’s Triple Crown challenge

Mackenzie Construction is proud to have supported the 2026 Doddie’s Triple Crown, especially the efforts of our Construction Director Mark Wilson, who cycled in one of the teams. This extraordinary endurance cycling challenge saw riders travel around 800 miles from Melrose to Dublin in support of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

Led by Rob Wainwright and Mark Beaumont, the event was created to raise vital funds and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND). Over four demanding days, teams cycled across Scotland, England and Wales before crossing the Irish Sea to complete the final stage in Ireland.

This year’s challenge proved particularly gruelling, with riders battling strong winds and heavy rain across much of the route. Long hours in the saddle and very little sleep pushed participants to their limits as they continued south towards the Welsh coast.

The weather also caused disruption to the final stages of the journey. The ferry crossing from Pembroke to Rosslare was delayed overnight due to severe conditions, pushing the final leg into Friday morning. Despite the setback, the riders completed the challenge later that afternoon, bringing an exhausting and emotional journey to a close.

Mark reflected on the experience, and described the ride as one of the toughest physical and mental tests he has faced.

“Completing the 800-mile challenge was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. The winds, sleep deprivation and relentless terrain pushed all of us to our limits, with some climbs reaching 20% along the journey. Every single day was physically and mentally demanding, and there were moments when it felt incredibly hard to keep going.

What carried us through was the reason we were doing it and the incredible community around us. Everyone on the ride, along with the support teams, backed each other through the toughest moments, and that shared purpose created something really special.

Along the route we also passed through several rugby communities who made sure we were fuelled, rested and ready before heading out on the next stage of the journey. We simply couldn’t have done it without the support of those incredible organisations across Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

It was exhausting and emotional but being part of a group willing to push themselves so hard for a great cause made every mile worthwhile. I’m incredibly proud to have been part of it.”

The event has so far raised an incredible £1,260,532 for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, helping to fund vital research and support initiatives for people affected by motor neurone disease.

For Mackenzie Construction, supporting the challenge carried particular significance. The company dedicated its involvement to the memory of former foreman James Patia, who sadly passed away from motor neurone disease during the Covid pandemic.

James spent more than a decade with Mackenzie Construction and was a valued and respected member of the team. His memory continues to be felt across the business, and the company’s support for the challenge reflects a wider commitment to raising awareness of motor neurone disease and backing efforts to improve outcomes for those affected by the condition.

Everyone at Mackenzie Construction congratulates Mark Wilson, the other riders, organisers, volunteers and support teams who made this remarkable challenge possible.

Any further donations can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sfrs-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=020