In July 2024, my good friend William Paterson took his own life at the age of 24. Will had no history of depression or any other mental health conditions, nor was anyone aware that he was struggling. His sudden death left a deep impact on everyone who knew him and is still taking time to come to terms with and share.

I thought long and hard about doing something in Will’s memory to raise not only money but also awareness of suicide prevention and the importance of accessible mental health support. Therefore, my dad (Rob) and I (Emily) will be cycling the length of the UK in August on our recumbent tandem, which Dad has just finished rebuilding. Our route is over 1,200 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats (LEJOG)

Although Will wasn’t a road cyclist, he loved his bike and he absolutely loved Scotland. At first, I planned to cycle from my house in Dorset to his family home in Edinburgh. That idea evolved into this journey — to honour Will’s memory in a way that reflects his love for nature, bikes and crazy side quests (sadly we will not be going ‘vegan’ for the trip though, sorry Will!).

We’re raising awareness and funds for Shout 85258, the UK’s only free, confidential 24/7 text messaging service for anyone struggling to cope. It’s run by the charity Mental Health Innovations, which also supports The Mix, offering anonymous advice to young people on the issues that matter most. One thought is that if Will had known about a service like Shout, perhaps he might have reached out in that moment when he felt he had nowhere to turn. We’ll never know, but we do know that services like this can make a difference — especially for those who find it difficult to open up out loud.

We’ll be camping along the way and using our instagram (@shout.lejog.for.will) to share some of the wildlife, food, and laughter we find on the road — three things that Will truly loved.

We also want to say a huge thank you to Will’s family — Jan, Douglas, and Izzie — for their ongoing support in fundraising, sharing memories, and helping us honour Will’s life. Their strength over the past year has been nothing short of inspirational. Together we hope to take something positive from an experience that has been so painful.

Please consider donating, sharing this page, or even joining us for a leg or two of the ride! Every donation, every share, every conversation helps more people learn that support is out there — especially for those who feel they can’t speak aloud about how they’re feeling.

If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out — to me, my dad, or directly to Shout by texting 85258. It is completely free from all standard networks.

Lots of love, hugs and big big thanks,


Emily & Rob Burch

Our Route (roughly!) +/- 3 days:

- 30 Jul – Truro

- 31 Jul – Bodmin

- 01 Aug – Sheepwash

- 02 Aug – Dulverton

- 03 Aug – Glastonbury

- 04 Aug – Thornbury

- 05 Aug – Worcester

- 06 Aug – Nantwich

- 07 Aug – Manchester

- 08 Aug – Borwick

- 09 Aug – Penrith

- 10 Aug – Lockerbie

- 11 Aug – Glasgow

- 12 Aug – Killin

- 13 Aug – Dalwhinnie

- 14 Aug – Inverness

- 15 Aug – Tongue

- 16 Aug – John o’ Groats

We’d love for anyone to join us for part of the journey — the more the merrier!