Head of Year 13 at Arnold Hill cycles 21,000 miles and counting for charity

Mr McEwan began in August 2020 with a 365-day cycling challenge, over which he raised £3,000 and cycled 5,500 miles. But he didn’t stop with the conclusion of that endeavour—on the contrary, Mr McEwan has continued to cycle every day, increasing his daily output from 10 to 26 miles every morning before school. His goal is to cycle 25,000 miles—the distance around Earth—without a single day off, and he’s only 4,000 miles shy as of writing.

Mr McEwan has volunteered for the Samaritans for over 12 years, so it was an obvious choice for him to support them in his cycling challenge. The charity is reachable 24/7 to support individuals via phone, email, or in person. In an interview with BBC Radio, Mr McEwan said, “Having to cycle alongside that, I guess it kind of resonates as well, this idea of not giving up and being there all the time and not stopping.”

The Samaritans aren’t the only ones benefitting from this challenge—Mr McEwan himself has experienced the rewards of exercise, fresh air and the satisfaction of achieving a goal. “There’s so many mental blocks. . . but it just becomes part of your routine, really,” he explained.

After his two-hour ride every morning, Mr McEwan teaches history at Arnold Hill Spencer Academy, where he sets an example of generosity, determination and hard work to his students. It’s a routine not for the faint of heart, but Mr McEwan has kept at it for over a thousand days and counting: “I like to think at the end of the day I do deserve a good rest.”

To listen to Mr McEwan’s interview on BBC Radio, click here.

To support Mr McEwan by donating to the Nottingham Samaritans, click here.

To find out more about the Samaritans’ work in the community, visit their website.