Edinburgh to Crowland: Riding for Jack

On the 8th of January 2024, we lost our Best Friend, Brother, Husband, Son, and Grandson, Jack Riddington.

His loss left a hole in the lives of everyone who knew him, and not a day goes by that he isn't thought about, talked about, or missed.

Anyone who knew Jack will know that he loved life, loved his friends, and loved a good laugh. What he didn't love quite so much was exercise. In fact, Jack firmly believed he was a great sportsman, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. However, he always had his type 1 diabetes as his get out of jail free card!

Which makes this challenge all the more fitting.

This September, five equally questionable athletes — Joe Grundy, James Rollinson, Matt Riddington, Freddie Hay and George Martin — will be cycling from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the hospital where he passed away, all the way to Jack's memorial Wood in Crowland, Lincolnshire: a woodland planted by his family and friends in his memory on the farm he called home.

It is a journey that traces the distance between where we lost him and where he belongs. Over five days we will cycle more than 330 miles through Scotland and England:

Day 1: Edinburgh Royal Infirmary → Duns, Scottish Borders (74 kms, 968m elevation)

Day 2: Duns → Newcastle (109 kms, 955m elevation)

Day 3: Newcastle → York (129 kms, 734m elevation)

Day 4: York → Lincoln (110 kms, 204 m elevation)

Day 5: Lincoln → Jack's Wood, Crowland (89kms, 220m elevation)

For a group whose current activities are limited to changing tractor tyres and talking about training for some big bike ride that’s ages away, this is a significant undertaking.

The ride isn't just about the miles. It's about remembering Jack, sharing stories, raising a laugh in his honour and doing something positive in his memory.

In the first year of the Jack Riddington Foundation, we are proud to be raising money for people with Diabetes in the UK, with a particular focus on helping provide life-changing diabetic technology and hardware to children living with Type 1 diabetes. The right equipment can make an enormous difference to a young person's quality of life and help families manage a condition that never takes a day off.

On the final day of the challenge, we would love any brave enough family and friends to join us, as we cycle from Swarby to Jack's Wood with a BBQ at the farm to finish. If you’re keen to join us register your interest by emailing "o.grundyy@gmail.com". You can also follow our journey on our insta - “500kgscycle500kmssouth”

Every donation, no matter the size, will help us support an incredibly important cause and honour an incredibly important person.

Thank you for your support.

For Jack. Always.