Land’s End to John o’Groats is popular for road cyclists. But it’s an MTB challenge to far for most riders…At more than 1,000 miles (‘,600 km) it will test your endurance and dogged determination to face the changeable British weather. Now try it off-road….
As part of the Explore! Bipolar ‘Highs & Lows’ ride, Ashley Toft will be leading a bunch of riders through a 3-week challenge starting on 31 May 2012 – and it’s all to raise awareness of bipolar disorder.
Starting in Cornwall’s Land’s End, the route mirrors the condition’s highs and lows with riders cycling as much of the route off-road as possible.
The longest day of the ride will be an 80-mile (128km) section between Wellington and Olveston, with the toughest featuring a climb to Fort William and possibly onwards to the summit of Ben Nevis.
Ashley created the challenge in memory of his brother, Duncan, a bipolar sufferer who sadly took his own life because of the illness in 2009.
He explains, ‘I have been amazed by how many people are affected by mental illness and especially bipolar, and am keen to do my bit to raise awareness and break down the stigma attached to mental illness which is still so prevalent in society today.’
The team at Explore! are raising awareness for the national bipolar charity (BipolarUK) and have created the Explore! Bipolar website where you can find out more, and you can follow them @ExploreBipolar.
With riders in the final stages of preparation, we are going to do our bit to support this ride; please take a second to share this post, look at the links, and if you want to help further sponsor the team here.
And if you feel up for joining them on a stage, you can email them on:
ridewithus@explorebipolar.org
