Father and son embark on a 5,500km charity bike ride from Newcastle to Istanbul

Newcastle, United Kingdom – Travel and fitness writer Paul McDougall and his recently retired father, Steve McDougall, are set to embark on an unusual trip, Cycling from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, to Istanbul, Türkiye.

The duo, who are good friends, will traverse 11 countries over the course of about four months, covering an astonishing distance of about 5,500 kilometers (3,500 miles).

Here’s the way:

England → Netherlands → Germany → Switzerland → Austria → Slovakia → Hungary → Serbia → Romania → Bulgaria → Türkiye

pee (He is also a travel writer) He is No stranger to long distance cyclinghaving already completed several challenging tours, such as the “Coast and Castles Cycling Route” — While he and his father were cycling together from Newcastle to Manchester.

Although they had never undertaken a journey of this scale before, their shared passion for cycling and adventure prepared them well for this challenge.

The inspiration behind this ambitious project stems from the influence that… Cancer and mental health problems It had an impact on their lives, and the lives of those around them. “Our lives have been affected by cancer and mental health issues.” Paul said.

Throughout their adventure, Paul and Steve will be raising money for MovemberIt is a charity focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health issues and suicide prevention.

“Over the past few years, people we care about have been struck by cancer. Some won the battle, some didn’t.” Paul explained. “The impact of mental health issues has played a huge role in our lives.”

The father and son team hope to raise awareness about the alarming statistics surrounding men’s mental health. “Not-so-fun fact: All over the world, a man kills himself every minute.” Paul stated. “To put it plainly, most men will understand: In the 90 minutes it takes to watch a football match, more than 5,000 men will have committed suicide.”

In a slight development, Paul and Steve will be wearing Newcastle United football shirts throughout the trip. “Because every charity campaign needs a gimmick.” Paul scoffed.

The duo is encouraging people to donate to their cause through the Movember donation link below.

However, Paul emphasizes this Communicating with loved ones is just as important. “Most importantly, call a man you care about today. Ask him how he’s doing. You might just save his life.” urge.

Paul and Steve’s epic bike journey began on April 8th, with no specific end date in mind. “We’ll finish when we can” Paul said. Along the way, they plan to share updates and anecdotes on their Instagram page, inviting supporters to follow their journey.

As they prepare to embark on this life-changing experience, Paul and Steve’s message is clear: By coming together as a community, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer and mental health problemsOne kilometer at a time.