Newcastle, UK – Travel and fitness writer Paul McDougal, and his recently-retired father Steve McDougal, are set to embark on an extraordinary journey, cycling from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, to Istanbul, Türkiye.
The duo, who are best friends, will traverse 11 countries over the course of approximately four months, covering a staggering distance of around 5,500 kilometers (3,500 miles).
Here’s the route:
England → Netherlands → Germany → Switzerland → Austria → Slovakia → Hungary → Serbia → Romania → Bulgaria → Türkiye
Paul (who is also a writer for Travelness) is no stranger to long-distance cycling, having already completed many challenging rides, such as the ‘Coast and Castles Cycling Route’ — while he and his dad have also cycled together from Newcastle to Manchester.
Though they’re never tackled a trip this big before, their shared passion for cycling and adventure has prepared them well for the challenge.
Travelness / Paul McDougal
The inspiration behind this ambitious undertaking stems from the impact that cancer and mental health issues have had on their lives, and the lives of those around them. “Both our lives have been touched by cancer and mental health issues,” said Paul.
Throughout their adventure, Paul and Steve will be raising money for Movember, a charity focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health issues, and suicide prevention.
“Over the past few years, people we care about have been affected by cancer. Some of them won the battle, some of them didn’t,” Paul explained. “And the impact of mental health issues has played a big part in both our lives.”
The father-son team hope to raise awareness about the alarming statistics surrounding men’s mental health. “Not-so-fun fact: around the world, one man kills himself every minute,” Paul stated. “To put that into terms most men will understand: in the 90 minutes it takes you to watch a football match, more than 5,000 men will have killed themselves.”
In a lighthearted twist, Paul and Steve will be wearing Newcastle United football shirts throughout the entire journey. “Cos every charity drive needs a gimmick,” Paul quipped.
Toon2Turkey Instagram Page
The duo are encouraging people to donate to their cause through the Movember donation link down below.
However, Paul emphasizes that reaching out to loved ones is equally important. “More importantly, contact a man you care about today. Ask him how he’s doing. You might just save his life,” he urged.
Paul and Steve’s epic bike ride started on April 8th, with no fixed end date in mind. “We finish when we can,” Paul said. Along the way, they plan to share updates and anecdotes on their Instagram page, inviting supporters to follow their journey.
As they prepare to embark on this life-changing experience, Paul and Steve’s message is clear: by coming together as a community, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer and mental health issues, one kilometer at a time.
How do you feel about this article?
Discover more from reviewer4you.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
