Member Article

The Bigger Boat boss is cycling for charity

Doug Main, joint founder and Creative Director of digital marketing agency The Bigger Boat, is preparing for one of the most gruelling challenges of his career.

He is one of a team of seven riders set to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in only seven days. And the reason for the momentous LEJOG trip? To raise much-needed funds for Child Brain Research (CBR), which provides support to the British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA).

The Yorkshiremen will embark on their journey on 18th June, to tackle a whopping 890 miles and 44,759ft of climbing in just one week.

The biggest ascent will come on day one, during the 127.3 mile, 8,952ft hike from Land’s End to Tiverton. The following days will see the team travel to Hereford, Preston, Moffat, Glencoe and Lairg, before reaching Britain’s most furtherly point, John O’Groats, on day seven.

Commenting on what is one of the most demanding jobs yet for this Brighouse-based designer, Doug said: “The route will see us cover an average of 126 miles per day – 13 miles a day more than the 2016 Tour de France. This is not a ride for the fainthearted.

“But it’s all in aid of a very worthy cause close to our hearts. CBR’s mission is to promote cutting-edge research that will uncover improved treatments for children with a wide range of brain and neurological disorders. We have an ambitious target of £5,000 but we’re going to pedal hard to achieve it!”

Doug will be joined on the challenge by Robert Brown, Office Manager at KSW Engineering; Christian Ackroyd, Product Quality Manager at Cummins; Matthew Long, Plant Manager at PPG Industries; Chris Gorse, Professor of Construction & Project Management at Leeds Beckett University; Rob Carlisle, Senior Support Engineer at O2; and Nick Grogran, a police officer. In preparation for the challenge the seven-strong squad have been clocking up rides as long as 125 miles in rain, sleet, snow and howling winds.

“Some of our other friends think we’re a little bonkers,” concludes Doug. “But there’s a fantastic sense of camaraderie within our lycra-clad team, so, if the weather holds out, I think we’ll really enjoy the whole experience – regardless of the chafing!”

To support the cyclists, or sponsor any of the team, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/teams/lejogbuddies.

Further information about the charities can be found at: http://childbrainresearch.org.uk/ and http://www.bpna.org.uk/.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .