A wheelie good adventure! Fundraiser Stephen takes on 320 mile cycle challenge

Could you cycle 320 miles? To put it into perspective, 320 miles is slightly longer than the length of the Grand Canyon (and that’s big!) or FOUR TIMES as long as Hadrian’s Wall. 320 miles is also the distance of the 1936 Jarrow March, which saw unemployed North East residents protest by walking from the South Shield’s town to Westminster, demanding new opportunities for work and a pathway out of the poverty they faced.

The Jarrow March has inspired Stephen Hannah, Head of Year Nine at Jarrow School, to recreate its route in an epic fundraising challenge for Children North East. Drawing a line between the power of a community to challenge poverty seen in 1936, and his experiences of the barriers faced by many young people from low-income families today, he will embark on a cycle ride from London to Jarrow at 4pm, 23rd February. Oh, and did we mention he is doing it all in one go?

In advance of his journey, we spoke to Stephen about what’s motivated him to take this ride of a lifetime…

Cycling 320 miles in one go is an epic adventure to take on! What made you choose this challenge?

I hope to show that with a lot of determination and resilience, you can achieve what you set out to do – just like the crusaders back in 1936. Working at Jarrow School gives me a special connection to the town, and I wanted to do something positive for the local community.

What is the significance of recreating the infamous Jarrow March for the challenge?

The Jarrow March of 1936 was an important historic event which is well remembered in the town. The plight of the crusaders resonates with the local people of Jarrow. During the Depression of the 1930s, many people in Jarrow suffered heavily and there was a high amount of unemployment. The people of Jarrow did not take this lightly, deciding to challenge the government by carrying out this march. Their determination showed the spirit of Jarrow that still exists today. My journey is a mark of respect for those who carried out this march, whilst trying to raise awareness and money for people in the North East who still may be affected by hardships similar to those back in 1936.

We are incredibly grateful you have chosen to fundraise on behalf of Children North East, what made you choose our charity?

Currently, there are 11 in a classroom of 30 are growing up in poverty in our region and Children North East are working very hard to decrease this number. Working with both children and their families, knowing the specific intervention being implemented specifically in our region is just one of the reasons why I chose Children North East. Working in a school I get to see first hand what a small level of intervention can do in supporting our young people.

How have you prepared for the ride?

I have ensured key training sessions have remained consistent in my routine each week, alongside a lot of planning and logistics for the challenge. I am very lucky to have an amazing wife who helps with this routine, without it impacting too much on our young family, as a new Father. This is something that will most definitely help keep my mind strong during the challenge.

Planning both the route and equipment takes a lot of time, especially to get the balance of carrying enough food, water and equipment. The route has also taken a lot of attention as we will be passing a lot of cities and riding at both peak times and through the night.

Although this is the longest challenge I will have done (hoping to do) I have taken on a number of endurance challenges previously, which helps give an understanding of what is required of both body and mind.

How will you keep yourself motivated?

Most people ask how I keep myself motivated and just simply knowing the purpose of the ride and significant impact it could have in raising awareness of Children North East is more than enough. However, I am breaking this challenge down into smaller chunks which will hopefully be more manageable mentally. For example, I have set each 100mile as a target so I gain that sense of achievement throughout, knowing I am a third of the way through each time. During these check point I will be speaking with my family which will help keep me motivated to get home quicker.

What do enjoy about working with young people?

It is difficult to sum up the reasons why I enjoy working with young people, as this could be a very long answer. Ultimately, working each day to ensure our young people are presented with as many options and possibilities in life as possible. One main area I try to focus on each day is being a consistent figure for the young people I work with, helping them gain a positive mindset and morals as they leave school.

In your experience, what challenges do you think young people of today face?

Our young people are some of the most resilient individuals which I have ever met. Continually facing challenges from friends, family and society, there are a lot of young people feeling very overwhelmed looking into their future. Due to a number of different factors, resulting in families facing a lot of poverty and deprevation in our region, our young people are having to grow up far too early. This results in the stress of the family household being picked up by the young people and are missing out on life as a youngster

How can people support you on your challenge?

Helping spread the amazing work of Children North East, and any donations would be amazing. No matter how big or small. Throughout the event we will be giving live updates through Twitter ( @pedalforcause and @childrenNE). A follow and share through these channels would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made by following the donation link at www.pedalforcause.co.uk.