Please support me in attempting the Festive 500 on 28/29 December 2025. Its an annual fundraiser where 10 brave souls attempt to ride 500km in one go at Herne Hill Velodrome - that's 1,112 laps. In the middle of winter. In a maximum time of 28 hours.
So why am I, an averagely fit slightly overweight 46 year-old doing this challenge? Blame my son, Jack.
Jack got me into cycling during the first Covid-lockdown, when I accompanied him on rides. I got hooked. A couple of years later I did a track taster session as a present and got more hooked.
Jack loved cycling and spent most of his free time at HHV - a most wonderous place and community. As he got older, he started specialising in track sprinting (in 2023 he was 12th in the match sprint at the National Youth Champs despite limited training - see below), and spent many hours on work experience or volunteering there.
In the summer of 2023, aged 16, Jack suffered a serious mental health crisis. Without going into detail (that is his story to tell, if he ever wants to), he's been through an incredibly tough time over the subsequent years, and has barely been on a bike since. Whilst nowhere near the same scale, I've also struggled with my mental health whilst trying to support him and keeping family and work life going. Cycling, be it on the track at HHV or on the road, has been my go to way to relax.
The staff and community at Herne Hill Velodrome have been amazingly supportive of Jack during his struggles, with the staff very happy to have him volunteer at youth and holiday club sessions. So partly I'm doing this to say thank you.
I'm also raising money for the charity XLP, who have supported Jack through their mentoring scheme. XLP supports young people who are struggling through mental health, family breakdown, unemployment and educational failure to achieve their potential.
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