Four Countries, 500 Miles, One Goal: Supporting Mental Health in Construction

From Friday 19th to Sunday 21st September, four determined members of Team Pagabo, Tom Retallick, Adam Brumfitt, Megan Davies, and David Llewellyn, will take on one of the toughest challenges of their lives: cycling over 500 miles in just three days across France, Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, to raise money in aid of the Pagabo Foundation.

This journey is about much more than conquering the miles or enjoying the landscapes. As passionate advocates for mental health in the construction industry, we established the Pagabo Foundation to create lasting, positive change. This ride will raise crucial funds to support our ongoing efforts to increase mental health awareness, improve access to support, and break down the stigma within the sector.

We caught up with the team to find out what’s driving them to go the extra mile.

What made you sign up for this charity bike ride?

Tom:
“Having done similar rides in the past, I know that they are a great challenge. It’s great to push my own personal boundaries as well as supporting a great cause, and the team-work element to this particular challenge makes it more enjoyable.”

Megan:
“Back in 2023, after we had just done the Yorkshire Three Peaks in order to raise money for the charity, Harriet and Jason asked if anyone would fancy taking part in the Extra Mile challenge. We were totally naive to the challenge, and some would say rather unprepared. We managed to grit our way through the challenge, and I just got the bug. Thankfully so did enough people that we’ve been able to enter a team each year since.”

Have you done anything like this before?

Adam:
“Not for a while! I have previously done the 50-mile Great Notts bike ride some years ago but nothing on this scale.”

David:
“I took part in the Extra Mile challenge last year in the Loire Valley in France which was a great event and why I signed up again this year. I have also taken part in charity rides previously such as cycling from Reading to Leeds for Water Aid and I did the 100-mile Castle to Coast to Castle ride in the Lincolnshire Wolds earlier this year.”

How are you training or preparing for the event?

Tom:
“I have done a couple of charity rides so far this year in preparation, as well as hitting some of the hills in East Yorkshire, the challenge sounds like it will be hilly this year!”

Megan:
“I’m hopefully going to be in the best cycling shape I have been for this year’s challenge. Outside of work for the last 10 months I’ve also been training for Ironman Portugal, a long-distance triathlon that involves a 112-mile cycle, sandwiched between a 2.4-mile swim and a marathon run. Just about every spare minute of my day is spent doing some form of training. So far this year I’ve covered over 2500 miles on the bike!”

What are you most looking forward to about the ride?

Adam:
“The event provides the opportunity to ride with a diverse range of like-minded people from across our industry and push us outside of our comfort zone.”

David:
“Raising some much-needed funds for a great cause and challenging myself physically. Riding a bike is also a great way to see the world from a different perspective so the chance to cycle in 4 different countries is exciting. Even if we will be trying to take it all in whilst struggling up a total elevation of 38,000 ft.”

David:
“We’re looking to raise £4,500 for the Pagabo Foundation. We have made a decent dent in this with the help of our generous supply chain partners, but we are still yet to reach our target. Any donation people can make, no matter how big or small, will be greatly appreciated and help tackle the stigma around mental health in the construction sector.”

Adam:
“We are hugely grateful to those who have already sponsored us to help us reach our goal, still a little way to go to surpass last year’s total.”

Tom:
“With the challenge taking place in the French and Swiss Alps, I expect hills, and weather may be more difficult to contend with than normal, but my training is certainly reflecting this.”

Megan:
“The Extra Mile Challenge is a really tiring few days, and it’s not just the cycling stints you have to worry about. Due to its nature as a relay, you’re either cycling, driving the support car, or getting ready for your next stint. There’s a lot of organisation in the background. The days are also very long. As I usually go off as the first rider, I’ll be at breakfast for 6am, and we may not finish the day’s cycling until 5pm. Then it’s a quick shower before the evening meal, which can go on as late as 11pm.”

Adam:
“Having not ridden so much recently, getting my personal fitness to the required level is going to be a challenge, but one that will hopefully help me keep more active in the longer term.”

Tom:
“Knowing I’m part of a team keeps me going, as we all need to do our part to complete the challenge.”

David:
“Remembering what we are doing this for and that experiences like this don’t come around every day. Thinking about the sense of achievement we will feel at the end of the ride will also help me dig deep when required, which will be quite often I imagine.”

Megan:
“My family and friends have been really supportive through all the events I’ve planned. It’s goodto complete the challenge as part of a team too, when any of us are having a rough stint on the course, we know our teammates are there to provide encouragement and keep us moving forwards!”

Adam:
“As a first timer for this event, I’m very much looking to those in the team who have experienced it previously for guidance!”

You can support their journey and the incredible work of the Pagabo Foundation by donating here – https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/pagabo-foundation

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