Hi, I’m Mo in Year 8, and this summer I’m taking on a huge challenge with my dad: we’re cycling from John o’ Groats to Land’s End, that’s the very top of Scotland to the bottom of England. Over 1,000 miles, just the two of us, on bikes, carrying our own gear, camping along the way. And we’re doing it all to raise money for Smile Train, a charity that helps children born with a cleft lip or palate get life-changing surgery.

This cause is really personal to me. My little sister was born with a cleft lip and palate, and I’ve seen how brave she’s been through her operations and all the care she’s had. We’re so lucky in the UK to have the NHS, but not every child has that kind of support. Smile Train helps children in other countries get the surgery and care they need to eat, speak, and smile confidently—and I want to help them do that.

When we first set up our fundraising page, we hoped to raise £300. But thanks to so many kind and generous people, we’ve already smashed that target and raised over £1,000! I’m so thankful to everyone who’s donated and supported us – it’s made me even more determined to keep pedalling all the way to Land’s End. Every pound we raise can make a real difference in a child’s life.

We’ve called this our “Summer of Sweat, Spokes and Smiles”, and it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done. I came up with the idea, and luckily Dad said yes – even though he’s definitely not as young or fast as he used to be!

To get ready, we recently did a three-day training ride around Somerset, covering 240km with over 2,000m ascent to test our kit, legs, and patience! The ride took us up and down some pretty big hills, we got to camp on a goat farm and I even cycled past where my Great Granddad was born. I felt really good the whole way – though I’m not sure I can say the same for Dad, who needed a lot more snacks and a lot more coffee. Our kit mostly held up well, with just a few small things we’ll tweak before the big trip, like saddle position, bag placement, and how many snacks we actually need per day (answer: a lot).

We’re aiming to travel at a steady pace, soaking in the scenery and meeting people along the way. We’re hoping to finish in around 4 weeks, and I can’t wait for the adventure. It’s a chance to do something amazing with my dad, raise money for a cause close to our hearts, and hopefully inspire a few people too.

If you’d like to follow our journey or support our fundraising, you can find us on JustGiving and on Instagram at @cyclinghorizons.

Thanks for reading – and wish us luck!

— Mo, Y8