Bristol to Bath Bike/Walk/Run

I'm fundraising for Rethink Mental Illness!

Sponsored Bike/Run/Walk in memory of our friend Cheryl

On 31^st May 2024, we found out the terrible news that our dear friend Cheryl had died. Cheryl was a wonderful friend: funny, kind, and generous. But she struggled with depression and mental ill-health over many years, as well as physical  problems which impacted her wellbeing, and ultimately took her own life. It was a heartbreaking event that continues to reverberate for those who loved and knew her.

A year on from Cheryl’s death, three of her friends are coming together in her memory, for the ‘The Cheryl Way’: a 15-mile bike, run, or walk from Bath to Bristol along the old railway line. This is a route that Cheryl used to enjoy cycling down when she lived in Bristol.

Gemma, one of Cheryl’s oldest friends, will be cycling the 15 miles from Bath to Bristol, turning around and cycling all the way back again; Rhoda, Cheryl’s housemate and dear friend, will be walking the route; and Jess, long-time colleague and pal, will be running from Bristol to Bath and cycling the return route! Between us, we will be travelling around 75 miles.

Much like navigating our grief, we are each making this journey in our own way. There is no ‘right’ way to make this journey, we will each forge our own path along ‘The Cheryl Way’.  We are simply three friends, reflecting on the loss of our friend, and hoping to raise a little bit of money and awareness along the way.

The first anniversary of Cheryl’s death will be a sad day for us all, but doing something to mark the occasion, to be together and share our memories of Cheryl, feels like the right thing.

We will be raising money for Rethink Mental Health, who do vital work to bring about meaningful change to the health and social care system, a system that is currently not fit for purpose, bursting at the seams, and that needs significant funding and resources to make sure that people experiencing mental illness can have the best quality of life possible. 

We will also be sharing resources and guidance from suicide bereavement charities as part of the sponsored bike/run/walk. 

If you can spare any small donations towards this cause, we would be incredibly grateful, but we also really appreciate your well-wishes and general support. Anyone is welcome to join us on this challenge, just bring yourself, your bike/trainers, enthusiasm and snacks!

Thank you for your support - it means a lot. 

9am – Jess sets off from Bristol to Bath (run); Rhoda sets off from Bath to Bristol (walk)

10am - Gemma sets off from Bristol to Bath (bike) 

11.30am - Gemma and Jess (bike) will leave Bath at 11am

1pm - All of us reach the finish line in Bristol at Newtown Park Playground, Bristol, BS2 0AJ - and then we go for chips (the true Cheryl way to do things)