A Lancaster man is preparing to cycle the length of the country to raise vital funds for a mental health charity for young people.
Derek Buckley is taking on the gruelling Land's End to John O' Groats challenge as part of M&S’ ‘Big Fun-Raiser’ charity event.
Starting on Thursday (June 4), Derek will embark on a mammoth 900-mile journey, cycling for 10 consecutive days and covering approximately 90-100 miles each day.
Derek is part of a group of 18 members of staff from across various branches of M&S taking part, where the 65-year-old has worked intermittently since 1980, to raise finds for YoungMinds.
"I have a great belief in young people, but I also see how much harder their world is today with the constant pressures of the internet and social media," Derek explained.
"Through my past voluntary work with local charity Escape2Make, where I taught kids how to fix bikes, I saw first-hand the challenges they navigate.
“That’s why the work of YoungMinds is so vital, because when a young person struggles with their mental health, it doesn’t just impact them, it has a ripple effect on the entire family.
‘’Supporting the parents, brothers, and sisters is just as crucial and that was a huge inspiration for me to get involved."
This isn't Derek's first endurance challenge as he previously completed the same gruelling route in 2023 for Cystic Fibrosis.
"I did the ride by myself, and I can still recall standing at the train station beforehand thinking, ‘What on earth have I let myself in for?’" he recalled.
"The weather was relentless with two weeks of non-stop rain, which meant much of the lovely scenery was just a blur. This time, I’m looking forward to the company and hopefully, I can soak up the scenery and actually see the country!
"Last time, I was cycling 60-70 miles a day. This time, we’re looking at 90-100 miles, which is a daunting prospect.
“It’s such a great cause to get behind and I'm passionate about helping young people get the support they need, because that’s what this is truly all about.
"Knowing we have the support of our local community will definitely make those tough miles feel that little bit easier.”
Abigail Ampofo, Interim Chief Executive at YoungMinds, said: “We’re hugely grateful to Derek and all the riders at M&S for taking part in this challenge.
‘’Their fundraising efforts will help support our work including our parents helpline, so we can be there for parents and carers and the young people in their lives, at a time when more young people than ever are struggling with their mental health.”
To learn more about the event or to donate, visit www.thebigfunraiser.com
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