Dangerous Encounters for the Kent Blaxill Broke.Bike. Mountain Team

Setting off on a journey of over 8,000 km with just your bike to carry everything was an ambitious endeavour but that’s what the team at Broke.Bike.Mountain began in July this year.

The team then consisted of Louis Blaxill, George Jones and Calum Craig, all aged 23 and who had just all finished their studies and wanted to raise money for Mind.  Everything started so well, and the team covered over 1,500 miles through France Belgium and the Netherlands with Kent Blaxill sponsoring their journey before they ran into difficulties.

Louis Blaxill said, “Very sadly, Cal was forced to retire from the trip in late August as the daily mileage aggravated an old knee injury which put him out of action. Perhaps even more unfortunate, shortly after completing 5,000kms of our tour, two became one this month after George was involved in an accident with a car near Verona. He was lucky to escape with just a cracked helmet and a deep wound on his elbow.  However, he’s going to have to take some time away from the tour to ensure that his elbow makes a full recovery. He’s absolutely devastated to be back at home and missing out on the second half of the trip. On a personal note, I owe him a huge thank you. H

e’s done a heroic shift and has kept me going through many of our toughest days. Such is the measure and commitment of the man that, even with his incapacitated elbow, he will be flying out to support me at various points on my now solo race to the Seville. His rehabilitation is going well so we might even be able to get him back on the bike for the last couple of days, so we can cross the finish line together.”

Blaxill continued, “We’re really excited to have surpassed the £4,000 mark on our JustGiving page. However, we also realise there is a long way to go if we are to reach our target of £6,214 by the time we have finished (a pound for every mile we will cycle). Even if our journey doesn’t inspire everyone to donate we hope at the very least it will get people talking about mental health and go some way to breaking the taboo surround the issue. At university, we saw first-hand the devastating impact that mental health problems can have on people’s lives. Mind play an essential role in ensuring that people suffering with mental health problems receive the advice and support that they need.”

Managing Director at Kent Blaxill, Simon Blaxill said, “I am very proud that Louis is going to plough on.  This was a mammoth challenge and we will follow his last month even more closely now he is alone on what was already an almighty ask as a trio. The views posted on Instagram are truly breath-taking – Louis will need all the support he can get via social media as this will be gruelling finish on his own.  To keep his spirits high, I plan to join up with him in Montpelier and cycle via the Pyrenean foothills to Barcelona – about 3,500 miles in 5 days so that will be my own personal challenge!”  Simon continued, “Louis has done amazingly well with his fundraising and we want him to continue to do that and complete this epic journey. We are also hopeful that George will be able to re-join Louis and ride from Valencia to Seville on 24^th November and of course, that Cal can be there for the finish line.”

To help Louis Blaxill continue his trip and reach their goal, please sponsor at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brokebike-mountain and follow his progress @broke.bike.mountain