Matt Fretwell is aiming to ride 100 miles a day for 10 days to raise funds for mental health charity Mind.
Mind is a British charity that provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding around the issue of mental health.
Having recently set up an online fundraising page, Matt described his motivation behind the campaign: "On the 7th of July, I will set off from Milton Keynes and will aim to ride 100 miles a day all around the country.
"After the first coronavirus lockdown restrictions had eased last year, my family and I started riding our bikes more and more. The more we rode, the more I wanted to just ride the bike, It became a bit of an addiction. I loved the thrilling speed of downhill sections and the competitiveness between other cyclists and myself.
"I also wanted to do something for charity. I felt, as I was in my final year at university at the time, that I had spent a lot of time thinking about myself, and how to improve my position at the time, which is only a natural response in the high-stress situation that many students including myself find themselves in during the crunch of the final year.
"I wanted to help others and so I developed a plan to hopefully raise some money to improve the mental health situation here in the UK.
"Many people struggle with mental health issues, and during difficult times the availability of support is most critical. Mind provides support for people during their vulnerable times, which is why I decided to fundraise for them.
"With my new passion for cycling and my want to raise a bit of money, the plan was made to attempt to ride 1000 miles in 10 days. (And yes, a couple of beers were consumed during this plan’s creation.
"Almost a year on now, and after over 2000 miles in training so far, I'm feeling fitter than ever and just about ready to tackle the challenge. If you'd like to keep up with my progress, be sure to find me on Facebook or follow my Instagram account where I'll be uploading my progress to my stories during the ride.
"Any donations would be greatly appreciated!"
At the time of writing, Matt's campaign has raised £390 out of his target of £1000, which he is hoping to reach soon.
If you would like to donate to the fundraiser and help combat the recent mental health crisis, please click here for more information.
