Hey, thanks so much for visiting my JustGiving page.

Well, if you can believe it, after several postponements (not all Covid related) it’s finally happening… On May 20th I will begin cycling, unsupported, from my home in Jersey to Rome, Italy.

The starting location has changed since the original plan, we might have moved countries smack bang in the middle of a pandemic (who does that?!) Weirdly though, the distance is pretty much the same. 

The challenge…

I will be averaging 120km per day, on my road bike, carrying all my kit (including camping gear) with no assistance. In total I’ll be cycling just over 2000km in 17 days. I’ll be cycling through France, Switzerland and Italy, including a few bumps through the Alps.

Aside from potential aches, pains, blisters, highs and lows I’m sure to experience along the way the biggest challenge will likely be to not get lost.

Why…

I’m riding to raise vital funds for the charity Mind.

Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign tirelessly to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Personally I have suffered spells of both anxiety and depression over the years, as have others very close to me. Cycling is one of the tools I use to manage my mental health and therefore seemed apt to incorporate it in a fund raising challenge.

I really hope to raise awareness and to challenge any stigma, particularly amongst men. One of the main issues with mental health is that it's difficult to admit that you're struggling or even be able to personally understand what it is you're struggling with.

Unfortunately, since the pandemic WHO have reported a 25% rise, worldwide, in the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Therefore, charities like Mind need our support more than ever.

I fully appreciate times are hard, even if I could raise a small amount alongside raising awareness and challenging the stigma, I know it will be worth it. Even if you are unable to donate financially, I’d still be grateful of any support and encouragement along the way. I’ve got a feeling those few bumps over the Alps might just test me both physically and mentally.

Thanks for reading! 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.