Student’s epic cycle ride for a greener world
A STUDENT has cycled the length of the country to raise funds and awareness for the plight of the planet.
Joe Wallwork, a 22-year-old student born and bred in Edenfield pedalled almost 1,000 miles from John O’Groats in Scotland through to Lands End in Cornwall to raise money for environmental charity Friends of the Earth.
Joe’s parents Richard and Cathy Wallwork, who both live in Edenfield, also played their part in the marathon cycle.
Richard drove Joe to the start in John O’Groats and acted as support driver until East Kilbride, where his mum took over at Penrith and stayed with him as he cycled through Rossendale and Manchester .Finally his girlfriend Georgia Barratt acted as Joe’s support driver from Bristol and to the ultimate destination of Lands End.
The whole journey took nine days, with 82 hours of cycling. After diversions the total distance was around 980 miles.
Joe said he took on the challenge because he wanted to highlight the environmental issues facing the planet.
He said: “I believe that the current political climate is very much sidelining this important issue at a time when it is of crucial importance that we act.
“I have long been concerned about environmental issues and have been involved with the Green Party and Friends of the Earth, attending the events in Paris.
“I feel that Friends of the Earth is a very worthwhile charity and organisation, which does some really great work to try to deliver climate justice on local and international scales and therefore wanted to be able to raise money for them somehow.”
Joe, who has graduated with a Masters degree in Mathematics from University of Manchester, was originally motivated to complete the epic journey by the Duke of Edinburgh Award’s 60th anniversary ‘Diamond Challenge’, in which participants must raise £60 for the DoE charity. Joe had previously completed the bronze, silver and gold awards between the ages of 11 and 18, while he was studying at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School. He managed to raise more than double the target, raising £145 for the DoE award. Joe has £600 guaranteed for Friends of the Earth , and a further £300 pledged by local businesses, friends and family, and he hopes to eventually raise more than £1,000.
To donate visit justgiving.com/joesdiamond-challenge2016FoTE.