Newlyweds Jeremy and Lottie are planning to cycle from Australia to the UK on an epic fundraising journey. The couple will pedal across continents to raise vital funds for The Brain Tumour Charity and for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Jeremy Daubeny, from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, and wife Lottie were married on August 9th this year, and will cycle 15,000 miles over 18 months, from Adelaide, Australia, all the way home.
Jeremy is no stranger to endurance cycling challenges having pedalled the length of the UK in 2021. He was motivated by the loss of both his parents within months of each other – his dad, Giles, to a brain tumour in 2018, and his mum, Clare, to motor neurone disease just seven months later.
The then 19-year-old channelled his grief into a fundraising cycle with the theme of searching for Britain’s best breakfast. The “Tour de Full English” raised £37,500 for charity and led to Jeremy being nominated for a Pride of Britain Award and being named ITV Meridian Fundraiser of the Year.
A follow up challenge in 2022 – this time with Lottie – saw the pair, who met as students at the University of Exeter, take on a massive 2,000-mile cycle to Greece.
But pedalling back to the UK from Australia is by far their toughest challenge yet.
Losing my parents has made both Lottie and I focus on what’s really important in life.
Jeremy
Cycling from Australia to UK: A honeymoon with a difference
Jeremy said: “We were incredibly lucky to meet each other on the first day of university and discovered we both have a thirst for adventure.
“We know that it isn’t always easy to go on an 18-month adventure, so we thought now, after uni, without contracts and mortgages, it was the perfect time to go on the trip of a lifetime.
“Starting in Adelaide, we’ll initially ride east towards Melbourne before heading north along Australia’s east coast to Cairns. From there, our adventure continues in Southeast Asia, cycling from Singapore through Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
“From there, we’ll take a flight over Myanmar and China into Kyrgyzstan. Here we’re hoping to cycle the second highest paved road in the world into Tajikistan here before cycling through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. One more flight over the Caspian Sea into Georgia will put us on the homeward stretch through Turkey and into Europe! We’re aiming to pedal 15,000 miles and if we need to take alternative transportation to stay safe we will do.”
Jeremy and Lottie have mapped their route very carefully, anticipating all manner of logistical difficulties, from the variables of climate to needing to negotiate areas not accessible on two wheels.
Jeremy said: “Of course, we want to cycle as much of the journey as possible but it’s clear that this wouldn’t be wise… Firstly, there are some oceans in between which are less than ideal cycling conditions and then there are countries which it isn’t advisable to cycle through. The route has, therefore, been carefully constructed using a mixture of Foreign Office advice, as well as seeing where people have gone before.
“Some flights and boat trips will be necessary and we will of course need a complex array of visas! On the whole, it’s one country at a time and being prepared for both hotter and colder climates.
“I think the main obstacle we’ll face is heat! So we’ll be aiming to start at sunrise more often than not and probably not cycling too much beyond 10 or 11am, particularly in the first part of the cycle. Otherwise, it’s adapting to constantly changing cultures and conventions which is both incredibly exciting but also a touch challenging.
“Whether it’s different road conditions and driving styles, laws on camping, knowing which neighbourhoods to embrace and which ones to perhaps avoid… there will be a lot to get our heads around and we’re sure this will be ever-changing. Thankfully it is a well-trodden route though, and there are people we can ask and learn from.
“We will of course miss everyone at home, but we’re hoping there may be some visitors en route!”
Pedalling to raise vital funds
Jeremy added: “It would be a shame to embark on such an adventure without fundraising for two causes very close to my heart.
“Ultimately, no one should have to suffer like my parents did. Both brain tumours and Motor Neurone Disease are devastating conditions which attack the body and destroy your ability to live the life you once knew. Particularly among people our age, terminal illness can be a bit of a taboo, but the more people that know about these horrific conditions, the faster we can fundraise, research and potentially find a cure.”
Find out more about Jeremy and Lottie’s cycle and follow their journey on Instagram.
Take on your own cycle challenge
If you’re inspired by Jeremy and Lottie’s cycle challenge, you can plan one of your own! You don’t need to cycle across continents – any challenge helps accelerate cures for brain tumours.
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