Tributes paid to charity cyclist

A cyclist who was killed on Anglesey yesterday was on his way to the London marathon to raise money for a cancer charity.

Gareth Crockett from Moira, Northern Ireland was doing the ride as part of a challenge with his friends to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

The charity paid this tribute: "We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Gareth’s tragic death. Gareth was an inspirational fundraiser, organising a remarkable challenge to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in memory of his friend.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."

Gareth and two others began an extreme challenge on Sunday April 10 in which they were due to take part in four marathons in four different locations, cycling to each venue and finishing by taking part in the London Marathon.  This extraordinary challenge was being undertaken in memory of their friend John Erwin, who passed away in May 2010.

Paying tribute to her brother on behalf of the family, Gareth's sister Emma said: "Gareth and John grew up next door to each other and went to primary school together. "

Gareth and Jez Davison, a friend from John's university days in London, were aiming to raise money for leukaemia and lymphoma research through their extreme (Bel-don) challenge. They have already raised more than £10,800.  

Gareth, Jez and Neil Drew, also completing the challenge for another charity, had completed the marathons in Moira and Dublin before leaving Ireland to start their final stages of the challenge.  

On the morning of Wednesday April 13, they were joined by two other friends to start the first of two days cycling to Bristol.

The tragic road traffic collision occurred a short distance outside Holyhead on the A55 carriageway to Bangor, North Wales.

Gareth, formerly of Wallace High School, Lisburn, attended both Oxford University and Bristol University.  From there he went to work as a management consultant at Towers Watson Management Consultancy, in London.

"A keen athlete, he loved to cycle and run.  Gareth was very well travelled in his 27 years.  He had travelled around Australia on a gap year and cycled throughout Europe.  He took his bike everywhere he went on holidays; in fact he cycled up the east coast of America and back down the west coast."

To donate in Gareth and John's memory log on to www.justgiving.com/beldonchallenge "

The incident happened at approximately 10.17 am on the A55 eastbound at Gwalchmai between junctions 6 and 7 involving a bicycle and a silver Vauxhall Corsa car.

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Wales Police 101 (if in Wales) 0845 6071001 (Welsh language line) 0845 6071002 (English language line).