Two Gregory Group employees are taking on an epic challenge to cycle 1,000 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End to raise money for Mind - the 2025 Gregory Group Charity of the Year. Stay tuned to follow their journey.
Kevin Murrin, a convenor, and Darren Clifford, an HGV Driver are bravely taking on the British hills (and weather!) to raise money for Mind - a mental health charity which aims to make mental health an everyday priority.
The brainchild of Kevin Murrin, this challenge will see the pair (ably assisted by Mike Hamlyn, their support driver) weave their way through the UK, stopping at as many Gregory depots as possible. Follow there progress on this page and if you'd like to donate, you can do so here.
5 days before departure
After months of relentless training, including endless tweaks to their bikes and ridiculously early starts, the countdown is on! Kevin, Darren and support driver Mike, prepare to make their way to John O'Groats to start their enormous journey south. We spoke to them both to see how the preparations are going. Kevin said:
"It's all feeling rather real now! I've got one 10 mile training ride to do and then I'll be resting until Saturday. While I'm familiar with a challenge (last year I walked 110 miles for charity) this one feels big! I just hope the weather is kind to us and people cheer us along as we go."
Darren's mindset is similar:
"While you put in the miles beforehand, nothing can really prepare you for the real thing. I've competed in ultra marathons before and yes, you have to ensure you are mentally and physically fit, but it is the people around you that get you through. I couldn't think of anyone better to do it with than Kev. He's as determined as me and we've both put in the work to enable us to achieve this. But, as Kevin said, we need as much support as possible. If you see us on our journey, give us a wave. It will give us the boost we need to get over the next hill!"
The route
Starting at John O'Groats on Saturday 5th July, the team will ride their way down the country (although they are under no illusions that it will be "down" hill!) over a 16 day period. Their stops along the way will be:
Saturday 5th July - finish in Lairg
Sunday 6th July - finish in Inverness
Monday 7th July - finish in Dalwhinnie
Tuesday 8th July - finish in Perth
Wednesday 9th July - finish in Livingston
Thursday 10th July - finish in Queenslie
Friday 11th July - finish in Ecclefechan
Saturday 12th July - finish in Kendal
Sunday 13th July - finish in Wigan
Monday 14th July - finish in Telford
Tuesday 15th July - finish in Tewksbury
Wednesday 16th July - finish in Bristol
Thursday 17th July - finish in Cullompton
Friday 18th July - finish in North Tawton
Saturday 19th July - finish in Fraddon
Sunday 20th July - finish in Land's End (and begin the recovery process!)
Their motivation
We asked Kevin and Darren why they took on this challenge and here is what they said:
“At 66 most people retire, but not me! I’ve been a retained firefighter for 42 years and I think the training and discipline instilled in me from that make challenges such as this irresistible!
“I have lived in in North Tawton all my life, which is the headquarters of Gregory Group and where the business was founded. I’ve watched the company grow and do so much for our local economy and community, including supporting the local fire service, so I was keen to give something back." Kevin Murrin
“I love the freedom of being an HGV driver, but as a tramper who spends 5 days in my lorry, sleeping in the cab, I spend a lot of time in my own company. There are times when your mental health suffers, and I was keen to raise the profile of Mind and the support they have available. For me, exercise, particularly getting out on my bike, is brilliant for my mental health, so, when Kevin approached me, I just couldn’t say no!”
About the Gregory Group Charity of the Year
Every year, Gregory Group employees select a charity to support and collectively fundraise throughout the year. This year, the vote went to Mind – a mental health charity. 1 in 4 of us have mental health problems but most of us don't get the help we need. Mind want to change this. Thanks to their work, last year, Mind responded to 122,000 support helpline queries and their mental health information was accessed 25.3 million times. For more information, visit the Mind website.
