Sheffield Hallam student and Personal Trainer Patrick Muirhead, has come up with an amazing way to keep physically fit and focused in Lockdown 3.0, whilst current regulations mean he can’t participate in his usual sports. Patrick has set himself the challenge to virtually cycle all 1780 miles around mainland Britain, with the target of raising at least £1 for every mile towards much needed funds for Sporting Wellness.
Patrick was inspired by British adventure and ultra-marathon swimmer Ross Edgley, who was the first person in history to circumnavigate the 1780 miles around the UK by swimming in 157 days, propelled by muscle power alone. Ross’s swim was declared the World’s Longest Swim Sea Swim in 2018.
Aged 24, Patrick usually juggles studying for his MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Sheffield Hallam University, being a personal trainer at PureGym and playing semi-pro football for Handsworth FC in the Northern Counties East Premier Division.
Patrick said “I’ve already started seriously training for the challenge, which as the current UK Lockdown means an actual bike ride is out of the question, I’ll be using an exercise bike in my apartment. My aim is to complete the challenge in just a week, starting the event on the 18th of March, and if all goes to plan, I’ll finish all 1780 miles on the 25th of March, which is also my birthday. I think the work Sporting Wellness does raising awareness of the topic of mental health in sport, and actually offering one to one support for young sportspeople is fantastic. I feel that sportspeople and people from sporting backgrounds, such as personal trainers, coaches, etc., have a sort of “superhuman” vibe about them and others find it hard to believe that they may struggle with mental health issues. Having been on the wrong end of mental health issues myself, I found that my struggles were disregarded and “surely not” there. My hope is that by doing this, I can help at least one person and give them the confidence to speak up.”
Patrick thinks that some of his friends and clients will be keen to see his discomfort and ups and downs, so he is planning to live stream his challenge, while encouraging donations, on his personal Facebook and Instagram pages.
At a time when we have seen a significant increase in sportspeople reaching out for mental health support, now more than ever fundraising such as Patrick’s is a vital part of Sporting Wellness’s future.
Callum, our Founder, said “What Patrick is doing for us is just fantastic and very much welcomed – his fundraising will go a long way to help us to help others. It’s a fact that those with existing mental health conditions are struggling more than usual, and particularly with the impact of the uncertainty surrounding the 2021 Olympics, many young sportspeople who have never experienced mental health issues before are now. Patrick’s Big Bike Ride really is up there in terms of a physical and mental challenge, and we wish him all the very best with his training plan and then the actual 1780 mile ride. Patrick deserves lots of support!”
To support Patrick in his fundraising and to make a donation, please go to:
Patrick Muirhead Big Bike Ride on Just Giving
We wish Patrick the very best of luck!