‘My dad planned a charity unicycle ride before taking his own life – now I’m finishing what he started in memory of him’

A barber whose father had planned a unicycle charity ride before taking his own life is now finishing what he started, taking on his own 273-mile unicycle challenge in tribute to him.

Izak Lewis, 29, who lives in Manchester with his 24-year-old partner Sophie Stonehouse, a content creator, was just 19 years old when his father Patrick, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, took his own life, aged 49, in April 2014.

Izak felt his life was “paused” for several years afterwards – he was “stuck in time” as a teenager and he started going out and drinking more to “mask (his) pain”.

Before his death, Patrick had planned a unicycle ride from Queensbury in West Yorkshire to London to raise money for Cancer Research UK, but he never got the chance to complete it.

Starting at Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex on September 10, Izak will ride an average of 10 miles a day on his unicycle on country lanes, cycle paths, and along canals, crossing through Guildford, Milton Keynes, and Nottingham, before reaching his final destination in Queensbury, where he grew up with Patrick.

Sophie will accompany Izak, driving with equipment and their dog Sprout, and the couple will stay at campsites and in charity gardens along the way – and they are bringing some of Patrick’s ashes with them.

He told PA Real Life: “It’s like he has left me something to do.

“In a way, by teaching me how to ride a unicycle, he has left me a gift.

“My dad didn’t leave me much, but he has left me this, and it’s the only thing he’s prepared me for in my life.”

Speaking about his message to other men, he added: “You need to be comfortable opening up to your friends or friend, you need to be comfortable with one or two people.

Izak described his late father Patrick, who owned a car garage, as inventive, charismatic, talented, and “silly”.

He said Patrick was the “perfect dad” to a young teenager and they would often spend time together at the garage, doing “stupid, kiddie” things, such as tipping a Sooty campervan over.

Patrick loved “anything engine-related” – bikes, cars, and quadbikes – and could fix almost anything, meaning he was the go-to person in the village.

“He was talented in ways that you wouldn’t expect,” Izak said.

Despite their close bond, Izak said there were many aspects of his father’s life that he did not know about, including his “internal struggles” with mental health.

Patrick was not diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia until later in life, but this meant that between the ages of nine and 11, Izak was “not allowed to see him due to his illness”.

However, even when Patrick was in hospital receiving treatment, Izak said he sent a remote-controlled car home for his 11th birthday, showing how “caring” he was.

Patrick had planned a unicycle ride from Queensbury to London to raise money for breast cancer research, however, Izak said his mental health deteriorated significantly while organising this.

While Patrick often “joked” about his struggles, he ended up taking his own life, aged 49, on April 22 2014 when Izak was 19 years old.

Over the following months, Izak said he spent most of his time in his bedroom, suppressing his feelings, and he was “emotionally eating in bed” and started going out and drinking more.

Izak said he remembers crying at times, but his coping mechanism was to “seclude” himself – and he feels that he was “stuck in time” for years afterwards.

In the summer of 2022, Izak and Sophie were on holiday in Bali and, with Sophie’s encouragement, they decided to visit the Pyramids of Chi where they experienced “spiritual sound healing”.

They were told to lie down on one of the beds – and this is when Izak came up with the idea for his own unicycle challenge.

“It’s a weird to say, but my dad had a smell – it was like petrol from his workshop, strong chemicals, Drum tobacco, and cheap aftershave,” Izak said.

“I’ve never smelled it since (his death) and, honestly, it was like someone had put his T-shirt over my face, and every breath I was taking in, I could just smell that.

That “unlocked the conversation” around the unicycle challenge – and the couple have been preparing for the 30-day ride ever since, with support from Tough To Talk.

The 273-mile route will start in Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex on September 10, which is World Suicide Prevention Day, and end at a pub in Queensbury, where friends and family will be invited to celebrate.

Izak will ride between 7.5 miles and 11.5 miles each day on his unicycle, with Sophie following in the car, and the couple will sleep in a tent at campsites and other designated locations.

Izak has been training and has “transformed his body” by going to the gym and attending Barry’s workout classes, but he is still yet to complete a 10-mile unicycle trial run.

He said his biggest concerns are the weather and the potential for injuries – but he will be bringing some of his father’s ashes with him for the journey so Patrick can join them.

Izak said he does not know how he will feel when he reaches the final destination, but Sophie thinks he will feel “euphoric”.

“Strangely, I feel like my dad left me the challenge to complete as a way to bring me closure,” he wrote on the JustGiving fundraising page.

“Dad and I always challenged each other, and I feel like he didn’t finish this, so I would have to do it for him.

Sophie added: “Along the way, we’re going to be meeting loads of people who are joining us – different charities, companies, supporters – and I think this is going to be a life-changing experience.

“I think this is going to prove to Izak that he’s a lot stronger, a lot more driven than he believes himself to be.”

To donate to Izak’s fundraising page, visit: justgiving.com/campaign/isak.

For updates throughout the journey, follow Izak and Sophie on social media by searching @sophiestonehouse on Instagram, @sophiedeanstonehouse on TikTok, or @sophiestonehouse on YouTube.

For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at [email protected], or visit samaritans.org.