Big Ben ride duo clock 150 miles
A charity founder and his colleague completed an epic ride on a tandem to help raise money for a new double decker bus and also to help tackle mental health challenges facing young people.
James Shone, founder of charity I Can and I Am, cycled from Bath to Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament with Anthony Dutton. The 150-mile ride raised more than £20,000 for the charity, which has been working throughout the pandemic to provide tools to young people to prevent them falling victim to poor mental health.
James, a school teacher and house master, was forced to quit teaching in 2013 following a brain tumour that left him without sight and his body partially disabled.
James set up I Can And I Am and has spent six years visiting hundreds of schools to speak about his journey and the importance of how to inflate young people’s “balloon of self-belief”.
“The pandemic has been challenging in so many ways to our young people but I know that from it we can take so many positives,” he said.
“I want to help break the negative cycle so prevalent among young people today and to equip them with the tools they need to believe in who they are and what they can do so that they can live their lives with confidence.
“We are delighted to have raised over £20,000 during the ‘tandemathon’ which will provide funds for our new double decker bus which we’ll be using to take our messages and workshops in to those schools that need us most.
“This will allow us to spend time with individuals giving tips on how best to avoid poor mental health, recognise ways to keep our balloons of self-belief inflated, and to acknowledge our natural strengths and qualities and use them to best effect.”
James and Anthony departed from Bath Abbey on Monday, April 12, and finished their journey by Big Ben on the evening of Wednesday, April 14. They followed the cycle route Sustrans Route 4 for the majority of the journey.