Wednesday 9 June 2026
Steven is our Associate Director of Improvement and Redesign. He is raising money for Cancer Research UK with the challenge, which is called the Longest Day Challenge. It sees riders go from Land’s End for John o’ Groats on bikes costing £600 or less on the longest day of the year.
The Longest Day Challenge first took place in 2013. Since then, riders taking on the challenge have raised over £650,000 for charity.
Raising awareness of cancer advances
Steven said: “Embarking on the challenge makes me feel connected to Dad again as he will be with me on the ride via a picture on the bike. I also plan to scatter some of his ashes at Land’s End and then at John O’Groats.
I will admit that I go into the challenge with a bunch of emotions such as excitement, nervousness, determination, pride and sadness.
“The challenge is such a good way to raise awareness around cancer and the amazing advances that have been made in understanding and fighting the disease. Additionally, for me as a motorcyclist, it highlights the kind-hearted collective spirit that the biking community embodies.”
Honouring his dad
Steven’s dad died in January 2024. He had a diagnosis of asbestosis and throat cancer.
He says: “Watching my dad’s deterioration and how his quality of life was impacted was heartbreaking.
“The hardest part though without a shadow of a doubt was when my dad had his tracheotomy operation and never regained the ability to speak.
“That wrecked me. He had three torturous months in hospital trying to communicate to us, to staff and struggling terribly. Cancer is a truly horrible disease which has unfortunately touched most of us.
“It can be beaten and I long for a future where we don’t hear of examples like mine.”
Praising colleagues and our Employee Psychology Service (EPS)
Steven has been grateful for support though his dad’s illness and passing. As well as support from the biking community, he expressed thanks for the support he received from the trust and colleagues.
He said: “They supported me so well during the lead up to my dad’s passing and then in the months after it. They were always checking in with me and I was able to adjust my working pattern in the months leading up to Dad passing.”
Steven also received support from our Employee Psychology Service (EPS). He recommends others to reach out for support, if they are going through a hard time.
Fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Steven’s fundraising page let’s people request memory stickers for his bike.
He said:
It’s incredibly humbling to have the opportunity to put names of donors loved ones, friends or relatives – still with us or passed – on the bike and to have the honour of taking them on the ride with me.”
Will Steven’s bike go the distance? Steven said: “Do I think the bike will make the challenge? I hope so but you never can tell. That’s what makes it the challenge it is… aside from the small matter of 1000 miles in 24 hours!”
Donate to Steven’s fundraising page
