A Goole man has raised £260 for mental health charity Mind after cycling over 155 miles across the country.
Liam Simms cycled from Witherensea to Liverpool on Sunday, July 9 and managed to complete the distance quicker than the time it took for the sun to rise in the East and set in the West on the same day. The 26-year-old said the challenge was really hard adding that at points he didn’t think he would make it to the end. He said: “It was really difficult and I had to walk some of the way when I reached Huddersfield as the hills just took it out of my. At points I didn’t feel like it was possible for me to finish it. “I had a moment of celebration when I had about 30 miles left, but when I reached the end I just felt dead!” Liam was supported along the journey by his parents, with his Dad meeting him at each rest stop to allow him to have a break, refuel and dry off after he got caught out in a thunderstorm. Liam’s fitness journey began last year when he decided to completely give up alcohol and began running to help improve both his physical and mental health and become fitter.
After completing the equivalent distance of a marathon around Goole’s West Park earlier this year, also in aid of Mind, Liam then decided to push himself even further and take on the recent cycling challenge. Speaking about why he chose to support Mind, Liam said: “I think we have all suffered from a mental health issue or know someone who has or still is now. “Personally I have struggled with finding the motivation to do things, it can be so easy to sit on the sofa and not do things that are productive, so I wanted to do something for other people who are also going through mental health struggles. “When thinking about mental health, we all think about anxiety, depression and suicide for obvious reasons, they are the biggest words when it comes to our minds, but there is so much more. There’s also eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, body dysmorphia, schizophrenia and addiction and that’s just to name a few. “I am particularly passionate about supporting people who are recovering from addiction. “Mind works to provide information and support to vulnerable people and anyone that needs it. They campaign for better health services, protection of legal rights and employment. Mind also have over 130 local branches.”
After already completing a number of epic challenges this year, Liam is not stopping just yet and has already set his sights on achieving a number of other goals before the end of the year. There is still time to donate to Liam’s fundraiser by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/page/liam-simms-1687705752042?fbclid= IwAR3AGnbfKz1iF9_MPtTxx9CXCQ2jqNJ4feQdoRMkVlcUj0pvXMAiGegDjHc
Liam Simms has raised £260 for mental health charity Mind after cycling over 155 miles across the country. (29-06-182 SU)