Longest Day Challenge smashes fundraising record

The Longest Day Challenge, the annual, charity ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats on a bike purchased for £600 or less, turned ten this year and is set to smash its fundraising total.

The event, which raises money for Cancer Research UK first took place in 2013, and not only requires bargain basement bikes but also chooses a route free from motorways. The 2023 race took place on Wednesday, 21 June with 39 riders originally signing up but 36 able to make it on the day.

John McAvoy, who took part in the first run before switching to an organisational role, said: “Bizarrely, rather like last year, we had one guy who never made it out of the car park, riding a Triumph Trophy 1200. He’d ridden down from Fort William but started having problems on the way down, especially with the ignition. 

“There was another guy who got quite a long way out, kind of on his way to Inverness, and he literally just dropped the bike, I think he was filling up.  Everything was fine apart from his gear shift. The one thing that you really need had broken unfortunately.”

Participants are not allowed to ride back-to-back events, the idea being to keep sponsors and entrants fresh, with this year’s ride seeing an estimated 80% of first timers.

To date the event has raised £310k for charity but with this year’s tally already at £93k at the time of writing, the event will have easily broken through the £400k barrier.

John said: “We’ve absolutely obliterated the previous record. I think the best was around £75k, so we’ve absolutely smashed that.”

Entries to enter next year’s event will open on the shortest day of the year, December 21, and this year may have a slight rule change regarding the £600 limit on motorcycle costs in favour for allowing bikes with stories behind them, but that has yet to be confirmed.

For more information visit the Longest Day Challenge website.

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£50K on the longest day: LEJOG charity ride raises serious cash for cancer cause

First published on 27 June, 2022 by Phil West

A fleet of 36 intrepid bikers riding motorcycles costing no more than £600 set off from Land’s End to John o’ Groats on June 21 for the annual Longest Day Challenge charity ride.

The summer solstice event began at 4am and saw riders attempt the route within 24 hours. At the time of writing, this year’s run has raised in excess of £50,000 for Cancer Research UK – adding to an existing total figure of over £250,000.

“We raised £75,000 last time, so I think that will keep going up,” event organiser John McAvoy told MCN. “I still enjoy putting it together and I still enjoy meeting the people.”

McAvoy took part in the first run back in 2013, before switching to an organisational role. He continued: “Seeing other people go through the same trials and tribulations and ending up with the same sense of positivity that I experienced the first time is great.”

Riders had to visit a number of check points along the route and no motorways could be used. Rather than all opting for cheap tourers, entrants tackled the journey on everything from Suzuki GSX-R600 SRADs, to Honda CB500s, and even a Chinese-built Sinnis 125.

All of the 36 starters finished the route, with a 37th rider sadly unable to get their bike running at the start of the event.

“It ticks all the boxes,” McAvoy continued. “It’s a little adventure, it’s raising money for a good cause, it’s meeting new people, and there’s motorbikes involved.” 

Despite the event only just finishing, places for next year’s ride are already being booked up. To get involved and donate, visit the Longest Day Challenge website.