I write to inform you of our return to Edinburgh after completing our 2000 mile cycle, and to thank you for your generous donations to SAMH.

We cycled into the Grassmarket, Edinburgh at 3pm on Friday 29th August to be greeted by friends and family who had gathered to celebrate the end of our challenge, 42 days after we departed Berwick-upon-Tweed. Since then we have cycled the length and breadth of the country, taking in the outermost points of the mainland, making progress only on the saddle, aside from a few ferry crossings on the West coast.

Chris and I both found the cycle incredibly challenging, both physically and mentally. While we had prepared ourselves for the prospect of traditional Scottish weather and the unforgiving terrain, neither of us knew quite how hard it could get. We had some very demanding days, cycling up to 100 miles, climbing steep and long hills, and facing unrelenting head winds. However, perhaps the most difficult part of the trip was the camping! We camped the majority of nights we were away and were rarely stopped anywhere for more then a single night. This made it tough to get dry and organise for the next day.

Nevertheless, the rewarding moments far outweighed the negative ones, and it truly was an incredible experience. We both saw parts of Scotland we had never seen before, met generous and interesting people, and can now look back on what we’ve achieved with pride and great memories. In addition to this, the generosity of people like you was a great inspiration to us, and we are so pleased with the money raised.

Please keep donating as we aim to raise £5,000 to pay for a free-phone information line. This line already exists and is an essential service for providing information to those troubled by mental health issues, but is not currently free to call. £5,000 would pay for a free-phone line and a trained operator for 2 months. However our ultimate goal is to raise £38,000 to pay for a full years service so please continue to sponsor us above and beyond the £5,000 target.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Scottish Association for Mental Health will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor us now!

Cheers for your support and keep donating!

Chris and Jamie