At sunrise on Friday 21st June, Simon Berriman started the engine of his BMW R1250 Adventure and set off from Ness Point in Lowestoft, the most easterly point in England, in a race to reach the most westerly point of the British mainland before the setting of the sun.
An epic 581 miles and 13hrs 42 minutes later, Simon arrived at Ardnamurchan Point in Scotland, in time to watch the sun set over the Hebridean Sea.
A proud freemason, member of the Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association and motorbike fanatic since the age of 16, Simon had been looking for a personal challenge that could combine his love for biking with the ability to raise funds for Lifelites.
“I’ve been aware of the work Lifelites does for many years and have seen how the technology has changed from the original desktop computers, enabling more children to live the best lives possible, even if their lives are sadly cut short. It is amazing to see things like VR headsets and Eyegaze equipment that help children play and communicate with family and friends.”
The mammoth ride was made more difficult by a foggy and bitterly cold start, a rogue Sat Nav that initially took him in the wrong direction, adding an additional 30 miles to his journey, and then, towards the end of the challenge, directed him through a ‘short cut’ in Scotland that saw him traverse narrow single tracks, unclassified roads, blind summits and tight bends for over 50 miles, resulting in 2 hour journey where his bike never made it out of second gear!
On the plus side, Simon got to see some pretty spectacular views:
“The scenery in Scotland was incredible, absolutely stunning, especially around Loch Lomond National Park. And for the most part, the roads in Scotland were in great condition, perfect for biking.”
Simon has so far raised a fantastic £1,811, with donations still coming in.
Lifelites Head of Fundraising and Communications, Simon Pitts, said,
“Simon’s challenge was incredible and it’s hard to believe he covered that distance in the time he did. He should feel very proud at what he has achieved, especially his fundraising which has smashed his original target.
Lifelites continues to be blown away by the support of Widows Sons members who passionately share our vision of a world where all children with life-limiting conditions can play, create and communicate with the world around them.”
If you would like to take on a personal challenge and raise vital funds for children with complex life-limiting conditions, please visit our events page for some inspiration.
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