John Hewitt, Chairman of Wellingborough-based company, the Glazerite UK Group Ltd, has rallied a 12-strong group of friends and family to take part in a mammoth cycle ride in memory of his late daughter, Kelly.
The challenge will see the team - nicknamed Kelly’s Heroes - cycle the arduous 1000-mile route from John O’Groats to Land’s End next summer. John is being joined by a number of friends and family, including his brother Paul, and Isham businessman Glyn Pepper, of Snowdon Homes.
John’s daughter Kelly died aged 24 last December following a battle with depression. After her death, John set up a registered charity, We Mind & Kelly Matters, which is geared at raising awareness of mental health and supporting those struggling with it, as well as fundraising for mental health charities like MIND.
John explains: “Kelly took her own life having suffered from anxiety and depression in the months leading up to her passing. Prior to that Kelly had always been a happy and cheerful girl and a very much loved daughter, sister and friend. However, her mental health deteriorated very quickly, and her death has left us all completely devasted.
“A group of us decided to do something in memory of Kelly so that we could raise as much money as possible for the charity. We also want to raise awareness of Kelly’s story so people can better understand the impact depression and anxiety can have, and hopefully learn from it. Depression is a silent killer, and you never really know what someone is going through inside.”
Kelly’s Heroes plan to start training for the ride in November. Glyn Pepper, who runs Higham Ferrers-based company Snowdon Homes, says: “We’re fully expecting intense pain and stress and we know that the training will be hard, let alone the actual ride. But it will be worth it if we can raise as much as possible in Kelly’s memory and hopefully help many others who find themselves in a similar position.”
The team leaves John O’Groats on 16th August 2020 and aims to reach the Cornish landmark within 13 days. They hope to raise £50,000 to add to the £20,000 We Mind & Kelly Matters has raised so far this year thanks to a number of events arranged by Kelly’s family and friends. To find out more about the team and the ride, visit www.wemindandkellymatters.co.uk/kellys-heroes