In January 2018 I had a friend who died from suicide. Davy was the person who got me into cycling in the first place back in 2012, a hobby that has stuck with me for 12 years. He was the person who took me on a cycling trip to the Bealach ns Ba pass in the Scottish Highlands in 2013 - when I had only been cycling about 1 year - it is a trip that will live long in my memory as one of the best experiences of my life.

This May (2024), which is Mental Health Awareness Month, I will be cycling from home in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, all the way to the Bealach na Ba pass near Applecross, in Scotland. It is a trip of about 380 miles (280 cycling), and around 16000ft of climbing.

You can watch the video below to learn a little more...

I'm doing this to try and raise £1000 for the work of Aware Northern Ireland.

AWARE is the depression charity for Northern Ireland working for people with depression and bipolar disorder.

AWARE has an established network of 24 support groups in rural and urban areas across the country, which are run by trained volunteers. Support groups welcome people with depression & bipolar disorder as well as carers for people with the illness. AWARE deliver mental health & well being programmes into communities, schools, colleges, universities & workplaces across Northern Ireland. For more information visit www.aware-ni.org