Real stories

Taking on an epic cycle challenge to help fund dementia research and find a cure

Last April, I cycled 1,370 miles between Land’s End and John o’ Groats via the four corners of mainland Britain. This is equivalent to cycling from Dover to Tangier and took me the best part of 28 days. 

I had only done two cycle trips with overnight stays before.

The latest one was like Land’s End to John o’ Groats on steroids!

Top of the pops 

I consulted my family about which charity to support and Alzheimer’s Society was top of the pops. 

Dementia affected my mother-in-law, two of my aunts and my uncle. People don’t talk about it, yet everybody seems to know at least one person that’s been affected. 

We need to work hard and fund research to find a cure. In the meantime, it’s important we don’t forget the people that need help right now. 

Planning and training 

I was 49 when I started the trip, so felt it was important to be flexible and free of injuries. I didn’t really do much until three months before departure. I focused on my core, saddle work and lots of stretching. 

I also played badminton to improve my lateral movement. That was a disaster because I dislocated my knee three weeks before starting. 

I knew I was starting at Land’s End and would end in John o’ Groats via Lizard Point, Ness Point, Ardnamurchan Lighthouse and Dunnet Head. Everywhere in between was in the lap of the gods. 

I knew where I was sleeping on the first and second nights, but nothing was planned thereafter. 

Pretty special 

It’s quite nice not having a fixed schedule as it could become out of date almost immediately. You don’t know what you’re going to encounter – bad weather, an injury, a beautiful spot that you want to spend more time in. 

The PT sessions before I’d left were the most physically challenging part! Although Cornwall is very lumpy. 

In Rannoch Moor, Scotland, it was just so cold, windy and wet – it was as if I’d entered a freezing shower fully clothed.

On the way down my hands froze. I thought, ‘My goodness, my hands aren’t working.’ Fortunately, adrenaline kicked in before I came to harm. 

Seeing the crystal-clear water of our native chalk streams was awesome and visiting Glen Etive, made famous by the James Bond film Skyfall, was pretty special. 

People’s generosity 

My fundraising target was £1,000,000. My logic was that if I didn’t make it in one piece, the chances were that I’d make national news at which point I’d have a better chance of reaching my target!

Ultimately, I finished the journey fairly intact and raised over £15,000. 

The best part was people’s generosity. I talked to many different people on the way and told them about Alzheimer’s Society’s work. Many donated or offered board and lodgings. 

I hope my trip inspires someone to do something similar for charity.