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We're aiming to raise awareness of men's mental health issues, and raise money in support of the charity Andy'sManClub, through a long(ish) distance bike ride from London to Newcastle, in memory of Richard Popplewell. The journey will be made between Saturday May 31st and Saturday June 7th; if you fancy it, please join some or all of the ride, the details of the route are below. We'll also be gathering for some post-ride refreshments at the end of each day, and we'd also welcome anyone wishing to join us for this! And finally, do consider making a contribution to this charity, raising funds to support a very important issue in today's society - and sincere thanks to those who've already contributed generously, it is hugely appreciated!

Background

The three people you see in this photograph – Andrew Daines, Andy Cockayne and Richard Popplewell – first became good friends in the 1980s when we each lived in Worksop, Nottinghamshire and had part-time jobs at Tesco alongside our studies. Following our respective time at university, Andy D found work and settled in London, Richard headed up to Tyneside, whilst Andy C remained in Notts. Despite the distance between each of us, coupled with respective careers and family lives, the friendship endured, and we would regularly get together to enjoy a few beers and each other’s company. It was the kind of friendship where, even if you hadn’t spoken for months, you picked up exactly where you left off.

Of course, the Covid pandemic and the lockdowns meant there was a longer period when we didn’t get together. So it was a great occasion to meet up again after a few years in Newcastle, play some mini-golf at Whitley Bay, enjoy a few beers and a curry, in April 2023. Just under a year later, we planned to do something similar, however, a few days before making the trip to the North East, Rich informed us that he was undergoing treatment at South Tyneside Hospital. On visiting him there, we found our friend seriously ill, and just a couple of weeks later, Richard passed away at a tragically young age, a few days before his 54th birthday.

As we later found out, Richard had not been well for some time. Sadly, he hadn’t sought the help he needed, and as his family and friends are now experiencing, the world is a much poorer place without his presence.

It’s perhaps a bit of a cliché, but many of us, and especially us guys, don’t share our problems and the challenges that life throws at us, with our friends. At the same time, we would all be more than happy to lend an ear, and do whatever was needed to help our good friends through whatever they’re facing, wouldn’t we? Small worries, or big issues, real friends are always eager to help each other, without any judgement, whatever the problem.

That’s why, a year on from Richard’s death, we want to encourage people connect with their friends. Not on WhatsApp, or social media, but for real, in person, over a drink, or a meal, to share some laughs, and whatever’s on their mind.

On Saturday May 31st, I will, again, be embarking on the journey from London to Newcastle…and this time, I’ll be doing it by bike. I’ll be joined, for the full distance, by my 10 year old son Joshua, and, hopefully, others along the way. We’re also using this as an opportunity to raise money for Andy'sManClub, a nationwide peer-led charity that encourages men to speak openly about their issues. Please click on the JustGiving link and give generously!

Route

Each leg of the route is typically about 50-60 miles, using National Cycling Routes and safe, quiet roads as much as possible, whilst also trying to avoid especially steep hills! We would aim to depart between 9.00 and 10.00 each morning and to finish by around 5.00pm.

Saturday 31st May:

London - Letchworth Garden City

Approximate distance: 50 miles, elevation gain 1100ft

We're making Buckingham Palace our 'official' start point, before heading up towards Shoreditch and Hackney and picking up NCR 1 and then 12. Heading by Waltham Abbey, Stanstead St. Margarets, Ware, Hertford, Stevenage and onto Letchworth.

Looking forward to a well-earned drink at the Garden City Brewery, by Letchworth railway station.

Sunday 1st June:

Letchworth Garden City - Peterborough

Approximate distance: 54 miles, elevation gain 1200ft

We head out towards Cambridgeshire, passing Potton, St Neots and The Alconburys, before entering Peterborough from the west.

End of day refreshment stop:

The Cuckoo, 20 Oundle Road, Alwalton, Peterborough, PE7 3UP.

Monday 2nd June:

Peterborough - Loughborough

Approximate distance: 54 miles, elevation gain 2000ft

Today's journey will take us through no fewer than four English counties. We leave Peterborough on the East of England Way, heading north west to Stamford, Lincolnshire, then continuing just north of Rutland Water, onto Syston, Leicestershire, before concluding the day's ride in Richard's university town of Loughborough.

End of day refreshment stop:

Jam Garden (tbc), Bedford Square, Loughborough, LE11 2TP

Tuesday 3rd June:

Loughborough - Worksop

Approximate distance: 55 miles, elevation gain 2300ft

Heading north from Loughborough, our journey today will take us almost the complete length of the county of Nottinghamshire, into the city of Nottingham, and out on cycling route 6 through Sherwood Forest country and culminating in our home town of Worksop.

End of day refreshment stop:

Station Hotel, Carlton Road, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 IPS.

Wednesday 4th June:

Worksop - York

Approximate distance: 60 miles, elevation gain 410ft

The midway point in the journey, and the longest day in length, but after a few small hills at the start, it's almost completely flat. Skirting the eastern suburbs of Doncaster, we join cycle route 62 to Selby, then route 65 into the city of York.

End of day refreshment stop:

Volunteer Arms, 5 Watson Street, York, Y0

Thursday 5th June:

York - Darlington

Approximate distance: 59 miles, elevation gain 1100ft

We leave the city of York on the White Rose Cycle Route, and continue through North Yorkshire on reasonably flat terrain between the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales National Parks, passing through Bedale, before arriving into Darlington.

End of day refreshment stop tba.

Friday 6th June:

Darlington - Sunderland

Approximate distance: 41 miles, elevation gain 1300ft

The final two days are comparatively short, and we try to find a flat-ish route through County Durham, heading east on cycle route 14 towards Stockton, then north onto route 1, before finally taking the Wear Cycle Route into the city of Sunderland.

Saturday 7th June:

Sunderland - Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Approximate distance: 24 miles, elevation gain 800ft

Assuming we make it this far(!), our final leg will be a gentle 24 miles continuing on route 1, starting out along the coast to South Shields, and passing by the Herd Groyne Lighthouse at the mouth of the Tyne. We then head west, following the River Tyne through Jarrow, Hebburn and into Gateshead, where we will take the Millennium Bridge into Newcastle. We'll ride through the city on the Great North Cycleway, through Jesmond, before completing our trip in Gosforth.

We aim to be at The Victory, Killingworth Road, Gosforth, around 1.00pm.

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