Ollie takes on the ultimate cycling challenge for Ben - Land’s End to John O’Groats

"Some days were harder than others, but every mile was worth it"

For keen cyclist Ollie Sanderson, 52, from Nottingham, cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats had been a dream shared with friends for over a decade. This summer, after years of talking about it, the dream became reality.

Over 14 days, Ollie, who works at Book My Garage, cycled the length of Great Britain with two friends, covering around 80 miles a day and raising over £2,400 for Ben.

"It really is the ultimate cycling challenge in the UK," Ollie says. "We've done coast-to-coast rides, London to Paris and other big challenges over the years, but nothing compares to riding day after day for two weeks and covering that distance."

The challenge was more than ticking an adventure off the bucket list, Ollie wanted each mile to make a difference.

"I like supporting smaller charities that mean something to me," he explains. "I've worked in the automotive industry for more than 20 years, so supporting Ben felt like a natural fit."

The toughest days
While the challenge brought unforgettable memories, it also pushed Ollie to his limits at times.

"Weirdly, day three was the hardest," he recalls. "By the end of the day I felt pretty broken. My friends said they'd never seen me look like that before."

Heavy rain during the final miles, food that didn't agree with him and fatigue took their toll.

Ollie says: “I stopped and had some food that I probably shouldn't have had. The thing is, when you're riding, you stop, you eat whatever you can and then you're back in the saddle straight away. You don’t have time to digest properly – you’re digesting while you’re exercising, which isn't ideal.

"But, on the whole, the right meal and a good night's sleep make a huge difference. Your body repairs overnight and you wake up ready to go again. So, day four was a lot better after some decent sleep."

Another day brought a relentless headwind for almost 90 miles.

"Wind has a bigger effect on a cyclist than almost any other weather condition. Riding into a headwind all day is so draining. Mentally, that was one of the toughest days. It was long."

Yet, the hard days were outnumbered by the highs of friends and former colleagues joining him at different stages of the route, helping lift his spirits when he needed it.

"Phill Jones, CEO of Engineius and a former colleague of mine, rode with me for about 50 miles one day and we talked non-stop the whole way. We caught up on years of gossip and before I knew it, a 100-mile day had flown by! It was great!"

This is a great example of how community and camaraderie are so important, and other moments spent alone were a time for Ollie to listen to music and reflect.

There were also other physical challenges, Ollie says: “We were all pretty sore - spending 126 hours in the saddle over two weeks, you're going to suffer!”

Freedom is on two wheels
Cycling has always been a big part of Ollie's life.

"I could probably ride a bike before I could walk," he laughs. "Exercise is almost a by-product. What I really love is the freedom cycling gives me. You're not distracted by work, family pressures or everything else life throws at you. You’re present and can reconnect with yourself."

This challenge also allowed Ollie to see parts of Britain in a completely different way.

"You really appreciate how the landscape changes as you ride. We saw rolling countryside, rivers, wildlife and incredible scenery. In Scotland, we had deer running alongside us, red squirrels, birds of prey and even an adder. The Highlands are absolutely stunning."

There were some other real highlights too, including stopping to swim in a crystal-clear river in the Highlands during one of the warmest days of the trip. Luckily, Ollie escaped the higher temperatures of the recent heatwave which were mostly down in the South.

"If we'd had more time, we'd probably have turned around and cycled home as well, although we'd have wanted a week's rest first," he laughs.
The kindness of strangers
One of the biggest surprises was the generosity of people they met along the way.

Ollie says, "We'd stop for lunch anywhere we could and people would come over to ask what we were doing."

At one café, a stranger asked to take a photo of Ollie's cycling jersey so he could remember the charity and donate later. Ollie said: "It was really touching - I didn’t expect it but sure enough, he donated."

At another stop, a golfer handed Ollie £10 in cash after hearing about the challenge. "He just said, 'Can I give you some cash?' These moments really stayed with me and meant a lot."

Raising awareness as well as funds

Having worked across the automotive industry for decades, Ollie shared regular updates with colleagues, friends and former co-workers. He even timed fundraising requests around payday to maximise donations. His company, Book My Garage, donated and shared the journey across their social media channels.

"I originally hoped to raise around £1,000, so to raise over double that amount has been amazing – thank you to everyone who donated! My colleagues at Book My Garage have been so kind, so supportive and helping me in lots of different ways, not only by donating, but also the encouragement and interest in the challenge has really spurred me on.”

Ollie also hopes the challenge has helped raise awareness of Ben's support.

"There have probably been times in my own life when I should have reached out for help," he reflects. "And I sadly lost a colleague who was struggling with his mental health. Experiences like that stay with you. By supporting Ben, I hope more people get to know the charity is there if they ever need it."

Each mile mattered
Looking back, Ollie says the challenge was amazing and one of his favourite experiences.

He says, "There were hard days, sore days and days when the weather wasn't on our side, but I loved it – it really was everything I wanted it to be."

Ollie’s journey was a true example of what determination, community and kindness can achieve when people come together behind a cause. Thanks to his outstanding effort and the generosity of donors, Ollie has raised enough funds for Ben to provide around 50 counselling sessions, emergency accommodation for 24 families or emergency food for over 60 people – which is incredible.

And while most people would be planning a well-earned rest after cycling the length of Britain, Ollie had other ideas. Just a week after finishing, he was heading out again, this time to ride up Snowdon with his son.

It seems that some people are simply happiest when they're in the saddle.

There’s still time to support Ollie and donate: https://giving.ben.org.uk/pf/oliversanderson

ENDS