826km to be travelled in 5 days by bike. From Newcastle to London. 4 travellers. A collaboration between Stuart and Co-op in aid of Mind 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️

From Monday 12th July - Friday 16th July, four of our amazing Stuart employees from the UK team will be embarking on a challenging journey, cycling from Newcastle to London in 5 days! All with the aim of raising awareness and funds for the incredible charity, Mind, together with Co-op.

Mind is a mental health charity ensuring that no one feels like they are facing mental health issues alone. This is such an essential and far-reaching organisation, with 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health issue of some kind each year in England. 

The route the cyclists will be following is listed below:

• Newcastle <208km> Manchester

• Manchester <193km> Birmingham (via Sheffield & Derby)

• Birmingham <149km> Reading

• Reading <178km> Brighton (via Southampton)

• Brighton <108km> London

Their journey will be documented via video 🎥 with a final compilation created at the end, showcasing the incredible adventure, so keep your eyes peeled for that! They will be stopping off at Co-op locations en-route, with lunch vouchers being provided to the dedicated team🚀

We are super excited to be collaborating on this exciting project with Co-op in aid of Mind. Don’t forget to donate to this amazing cause, and cheer on our riders, Dave, Ollie & Guy, as well as our support vehicle driver, Chris, who will be accompanying them along the route.

Other team members from Stuart, as well as the team at Co-op, will be joining our heroes for day 2 in Manchester! Support them all in hitting the fundraising target 🚀

Meet the team:

Ollie 

Fun fact - I’m irrationally scared of the sea and everything in it. Can’t see the bottom? You’re in too deep.

What are you most excited for about the trip? - Trying as many different vegan junk food places as I can in each city we visit. And dropping Guy up all the climbs.

Guy 

Fun fact - Ran a winter 50km ultra trail marathon with Ollie and became delirious in the dark, singing “take me home, country roads” to get across the finish line.

What are you most excited for about the trip? - Becoming well acquainted with various Premier Inn’s across the UK, & visiting Manchester and (oddly) Winchester.

Dave

Fun fact - Even though I think i have very good sense of direction, I still manage to end up of a planned cycle route to a point of carry my bike through a ford or many a fields. (it is what it is carry on)

What are you most excited for about the trip? - Visiting some new cities and new roads to me, struggling up very steep 20%+ climbs AND getting loads of sponsorship money. (Going Vegan for the full week)..

Chris 

Fun fact - A father's day gift many years ago was cleaning my father's car. He wasn't best pleased that I had scrubbed his car clean with a Brillo pad.

What are you most excited for about the trip? - I will be supporting the team in my grandfather's car. He was an avid traveller and always looked after his charities. As this vehicle's life nears its end, one final ode to my grandfather doing such a worthwhile endeavour that he would be proud of!