Former Glazerite UK Group chairman, John Hewitt, and a team of industry friends and colleagues have started the US leg of the We Mind & Kelly Matters (WM&KM) ‘Loneliest Road’ charity cycle challenge.
The epic ride across the USA is the latest in a series of Kelly’s Heroes fundraising challenges set to raise money for WM&KM, while raising awareness of mental health.
The US leg kicked off in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday 24 September, following the European leg of the challenge, which saw riders cycle from Spain to the HQ of main sponsors, Veka Group, in Germany. The 12-strong team faced extreme heat across the continent for the challenge, which also saw them climb 3,924ft up Mont Ventoux.
In addition to John’s daughter Amy, the Loneliest Road team includes Glazerite’s James Westley, Sarah Ball from Balls 2 Marketing, Listers MD Roy Frost, DoorCo’s Dan Sullivan, FCD’s Adrian Lewis, and Peter Mew from Mews Windows. The USA route will cover 3,336 miles and cross seven mountain ranges along Highway 50. The team aim to finish the challenge in San Francisco next Monday, 10 October 2022, to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
Glazerite’s production manager, James Westley, who is taking part, said: “This is definitely the biggest challenge I’ve ever taken on. All the riders have a reason for taking part. I’m doing so in memory of Churton Wilson, 40, Nick Taylor, 36, Anthony Griffiths, 36, and of course my niece, Kelly Hewitt, 24.
“Our efforts are in the hope that those in need know that they can talk and seek help with no shame. If it means we can save just one life in the process it makes it all worth it.”
To help the team smash their fundraising target and support mental health, visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/Kellys-Heroes-The-Loneliest-Road-2022
You can also catch up with the team on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm88Ml5bbkU and contribute to the miles being covered by taking part in the virtual challenge at www.ultrabritain.com/events/kellys-heroes/the-loneliest-road/mCCwYMZF8J/the-loneliest-road-jogle
