Amputee Barry Mackleston Embarks on UK Bus Pass Challenge
A 72-year-old amputee from Greater Manchester, Barry Mackleston, is undertaking a remarkable journey of 1,200 miles (1,931 km) across the United Kingdom using only his bus pass.
Barry, a former transport worker from Wythenshawe, has launched his "bus pass challenge," aiming to travel in his wheelchair from John O' Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall entirely by bus.
He began the seven-day, bus-only route on 31 March with the goal of raising funds for the local rugby club that helped reintegrate him into society following a life-changing accident.
"It's going to be a buzzing time," Barry told BBC Radio Manchester. "I'm really excited."
Previous Fundraising Success and Ongoing Support for Rugby Club
In 2025, Barry raised over £1,500 during his first bus pass challenge, which involved a bus-only journey from Manchester to London. The funds were directed towards improving the deteriorating facilities at Wythenshawe Community Rugby Club.
As with his previous challenge, Barry has committed all proceeds from this journey to the rugby club, where he has volunteered since losing his leg in an accident five years ago.
Barry described the club's impact on his mental health as "beyond words." He said, "I was in a coma for a huge length of time, and you wake up, and your whole life is changed. Rugby kind of brought me back into the world again."
Challenges Faced by the Rugby Club
Speaking to Radio Manchester from his first bus stop in Orkney on Tuesday, Barry expressed concern about the club's future and the urgent need for improvements.
"I can't see the club die and that's where we're going with this if we don't if we don't get the work done that we need to get done.
We've been struggling now for two years to get sort of connected with the council and get a move on with moving into premises.
The premises we have are not good - the floor's falling out, things don't work, we've been rebuffed all the time, and we still need to keep collecting money to try and get the club into a position where it is.
This whole challenge is about raising money really for the kids - because we haven't been able to do the work we wanted to do last year to make the hub better for them.
It's just making sure that the club has enough money to function and make sure that we actually get the job done," Barry added.
Encouraging Accessibility and Final Goals
Barry hopes that his challenge will inspire other wheelchair users to take advantage of accessible features available on public transport.
He is scheduled to complete the challenge on Tuesday, 7 April, with a fundraising target of £700.
Additional Information
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