how this all started...
The annual Roses competition between The University of York v University of Lancaster is one of the biggest varsities in the UK and before it was cancelled was due to engage thousands in a weekend of sporting challenges between the 1st and 3 May.
Long before this date (last December while in a pub chatting), me; as head of Sport at the University of York and York Sport Union President Maddie Cannell agreed to walk to Roses and the 104 miles to Lancaster for what would have been the start of the Roses 2020 event.
Events affecting us all have since led initially to the cancellation of this year's competition and any planned walk but has since led to a move to a virtual Roses and a change in planned charity fundraising we individually had in mind.
While Maddie and our sports clubs complete their won Roses linked challenges I have set myself a separate ‘isolation’ challenge to raise funds in support of two hugely worthwhile local causes Mentally fit York and York food bank
the challenge
Using the only indoor (spin) bike available to me I have set myself the challenge of cycling the equivalent of the 104 miles distance from The Uni of York to Lancaster Uni.
So old school is the bike that it is unable to record distance so using indoorcyclingmixes.com and livestrong.com guidance that suggests an average of 10 miles cycles per 30 minutes I will seek to ride the equivalent time to cover the 104 miles, riding for 5 hours 15 minutes on what would have been the opening day of Roses 2020
Lock down has seen a lot of biscuits and scones be eaten but unlike me, the saddle of the spin bike has stayed as small and razor like as it ever was almost making sitting on it for 5 hours a challenge within a challenge.
By the power of flapjacks, Vaseline and hopefully a lot of support I aim to complete the 5+ challenge for two fantastic causes delivering positively across York. I know this is a really tricky time for a lot of people, but please donate anything you can - and thanks for reading this far.
Stay well, stay safe and #stayinworkout
what it's all in aid of
Mental ill-health doesn't discriminate and whether we're experts in mental health or not, we should all be able to feel safe and supported in talking to each other about our mental health.
Mentally Fit York is a new fund to promote good mental health both at the University and across the city of York. Your support will fund the on-the-ground initiatives to improve mental health across the York community, as well as supporting the latest groundbreaking mental health research taking place at the University of York.
York Foodbank is a charity with a Christian ethos which started in 2012 as an initiative of churches in York in response to growing numbers of people living in poverty and needing support. York Foodbank now runs out of four food distribution points which open on different days across the city (Tang Hall, Huntington, Acomb and the City Centre). The aim is to meet the needs of those in our local community who are experiencing a crisis situation, to give people hope, practical help, and a brighter future through additional signposting services.
We want to make sure that no one in our local community has to go hungry, but we need your help to make this happen. Any gift of financial support or donation of food will make a real difference in helping us to ensure not only that people receive emergency food, but that they also receive help to address the underlying cause of their crisis.
