Five friends are soon to embark on a mammoth motorcycling challenge to raise funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Ian Charlesworth, Chris Tebbit, Robert McDonald and Ethan and John Stenner hope to cover around 1,500 miles on their motorbikes while visiting the most Northerly, Southerly, Easterly and Western points of the UK.
If the distance wasn’t enough of a challenge, the five bikers are planning to complete their epic journey in just 36 hours. In the early hours of Saturday, 29th April 2023, they will set off from John O’Groats, in Scotland, before heading to St Davids, on the Welsh coast. From there, it’s on to Land’s End, in Cornwall, before finishing in Lowestoft.
Ian, who is just down the road from us in Stowmarket, said:
“It’s a 29-hour ride, according to Google Maps, however, that’s without any stops and our plan is to rest for a quarter of an hour every time we fill up. It’s important to top ourselves up – not just in terms of petrol but also in terms of coffee and chocolate!”
“We estimate that we’ll stop about a dozen times, so hope to complete the challenge in 30 to 32 hours. Having said that, if it takes longer then so be it – even if we don’t finish within 36 hours. We’re not going to do anything silly and plan to stay safe. If we need to stop and sleep then that’s what we’ll do.”
“The most important thing is that we complete the distance, by hook or by crook.”
Ian has already completed long-distance challenges like this. He even managed to cover 1,000 miles in 19 hours but this latest challenge certainly takes things up to a whole new level. Despite the endurance-testing distance the group hopes to cover, knowing that it is helping to support the incredibly important work of EACH is proving to be a great source of motivation.
Ian went on to say:
“It’s certainly daunting but going to be an experience and something special to share together. My only regret is that we don’t have longer in any place, but it’s still going to be great and we’ll have a giggle along the way.”
“It’s going to be long and tiring but we want to raise money for a great cause. All costs will be coming out of our own pockets, so we hope family, friends and the public get behind us and help make our trip worthwhile by donating as much as possible.”
“We wanted to do something for a local charity, rather than a national one. My fear with the latter is that your money goes into a big pot and you don’t necessarily get to see how it’s spent. With EACH, it feels more tangible and we’re safe in the knowledge that our donation will directly help and benefit children, young people and families within our community. I like that thought and know the others feel the same.”
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH)
EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia. It has three hospices – The Treehouse, in Ipswich, The Nook, near Norwich, and at Milton, near Cambridge.
The charity offers families flexibility and control over where they receive their care and support, including where their child dies – at home, in hospital or at one of three hospices. EACH relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income and this year needs to raise £5.8 million from fundraising and £6.5 million in income from its shops.
If you would like to support Ian, Chris, Robert, Ethan, and John, you can do so by making a donation via their JustGiving Page.
