Bucks man cycling 2021 miles for Chilterns Samaritans
Tony is around halfway through his challenge to support the Chilterns branch
A Buckinghamshire resident has set out to cycle 2,021 miles for the Chilterns branch of the Samaritans.
After seeing the difficult year people have faced with mental health struggles Tony Hubbard wanted to raise money and awareness for support services like his local branch of the Samaritans.
He told Greatest Hits Radio how the challenge has been so far:
"Last year I did 1,000 miles for charity so I felt I needed to step it up but also its a bit of a specific thing so people pay attention which helps my cause.
"So on a weekday I get up at 4.30 am to do 55 miles before work, then on a Saturday I'll do a few hundred miles and Sunday is a rest day. A rest day has been needed recently.
"The weather recently has made it quite difficult but keeping going is a bit of an ordeal but the legs are keeping up so far.
"I think everybody thinks I'm crazy but I think that makes it more encouraging. People are getting behind me because it is something quite difficult so they are helping me get to my goal.
"Still, it is a fair easier challenge for me than it is for all those people who are making that call to the Samaritans."
Tony is not only half way through the distance, he is also halfway through his fundraising target which is also 2,021 just in pounds.
Julie from the Chilterns branch of the Samaritans says the everyone there is grateful to Tony:
"In the last year we had a lot of volunteers shielding, so people were pulling double and even triple shifts. We also had a huge increase in demand and people were coming to us with new problems, things none of us had ever faced before.
"Our biggest fundraising event had to be cancelled so support in fundraising is so important right now.
"To get someone who wants to cycle 2,021 miles in little over a month that takes a lot of mojo, both physical and mental.
"Everyone here is filled with inspiration for him."