David Fox-Pitt MBE cycles his Penny Farthing from Lands End to John O'Groats

ADVENTURER & LEADERSHIP COACH DAVID FOX-PITT CYCLES 841 MILES ON HIS 54 INCH DIAMETER PENNY FARTHING FROM LANDS END TO JOHN O’GROATS FOR THE MILES FOR MEALS EXPEDITION

DAVID FOX PITT honoured with an MBE in the Queen’s honours list this year (2019) for his contribution to the adventure challenge industry and charity
Cycle ride aims to raise money for Mary’s Meals a global charity of school feeding projects, feeding 1.4 million children annually in some of the world’s poorest communities. Mary’s Meals is a charity that David Fox-Pitt and his team have long supported

To date David has raised over £40 million for various charities through unusual and eccentric fundraising challenges and sporting events
The goal of the Miles For Meals Expedition is to raise as much money as possible for Mary’s Meals whilst breathing new life into the history of the uniquely eccentric The Penny Farthing by showcasing it to as many people as possible on this nationwide journey

LANDS END/PLYMOUTH, 30TH JULY 2019: David Fox Pitt and his indefatigable co-founder of the UK Penny Farthing Club, Neil Laughton set off on the first leg of their journey from Lands End to Altarneum. David and Neil will cover the tough terrain, aiming for around 70 miles a day. They will gesticulate for donations as they cycle passed intrigued onlookers. The end of this frist legs (as with all further ones) will culminate with a city centre celebration. With David and Neil wearing their top hats and tailcoats they will hop onto their bikes again to cycle into Plymouth town centre were drinks will generously sponsored by Hendricks Gin. David and Neil hope to meet locals and provide demonstration rides as well as to enjoy a well earned gin and tonic or two. Lucky passers-by will be rewarded for their engagement and generosity with a token redeemable against a refreshing Hendricks G+T at local participating bars.

David Fox-Pitt as co-founder of the UK Penny Farthing Club is a committed Penny Farthing rider. The Penny Farthing also known as a ‘high wheel’, ‘high wheeler’ and ‘ordinary’, was the first machine to be called a ‘bicycle’. It was popular in the 1870s and 1880s with its large front wheel providing high speeds owing to it travelling a large distance for every rotation of the legs) and comfort (the large wheel provides greater shock absorption.. (but we shall let David and Neil attest to the comfort shall we!?) The Penny Farthing’s name came from the British penny and farthing coins, one much larger than the other, so that the side view resembles a penny leading a farthing.

Expedition Itinerary:


Day
Date
From-To
Town / City for celebrations
1
Monday 29th July
Brighton to Lands End (car)
Lands End
2
Tuesday 30th July
Lands End to Altarnum
Plymouth
3
Wednesday 31 July
Altarnum to Will
Exeter
4
Thursday 1st August
Willand to Thornbury
Bristol
5
Friday 2nd August
Thornbury to Stourton
Birmingham
6
Saturday 3rd August
Stourton to Warrington
Manchester
7
Sunday 4th August
Warrington to Kendal
Leeds
8
Monday 5th August
Kendal to Lockerbie
Carlisle
9
Tuesday 6th August
Lockerbie to Kirknewton
Edinburgh
10
Wednesday 7th August
Day off / Glasgow by car
Glasgow
11
Thursday 8th August
Kirknewton to Pitlochry
Perth
12
Friday 9th August
Pitlochry to Tomatin
Inverness
13
Saturday 10th August
Tomatin to Brora
Wick
14
Sunday 11th August
Brora to John O’Groats
John O’Groats
15
Monday 12th August
John O’Groats to London (Car) London
London
16
Tuesday 13th August
London to Brighton
Brighton


“QUOTES”

ON HIS LOVE OF ADVENTURE CHALLENGES AND PENNY FARTHINGS DAVID SAYS:

“I like to make the seemingly impossible possible and through my work for charity I have encouraged thousands of individuals to surpass their own boundaries through successfully completing tough adventure challenges. I like to make people think outside the box and mastering The Penny Farthing is a perfect tool to illustrate how to overcome a fear of failure, embrace a new skill and above all make people smile.”

ON MARY’S MEALS DAVID SAYS:

“Mary’s meals is a phenomenal charity that Neil and I have been determined to help with. With Henricks’ gin’s generous sponsorship support we have been able to put our wheels into motion and take on this challenge to raise much needed funds. Mary’s Meals began by feeding just 200 children in Malawi in 2002. Today they feed 1.4 million children annually. Just £15, the cost of a round of G+T’s is enough to feed a child for a whole school year.! which is why we’re hoping people will text Penn15 to 70085 to pledge £15”

Ends -





Notes to Editors


David Fox-Pitt

David is a Scottish fundraising afficionado having raised over £40 million for charities since 1996 both directly and indirectly through his outdoor challenge and events company WildFox Events based in Loch Tay, Perthshire. David’s recently published, well-received book Positiverosity, 7 Golden Principles is a highly motivating yet paradoxically perhaps very British take on personal development. Some have termed it ‘self help for those with a stiff upper lip’. David’s great passion is sharing his life changing concept of Positverosity. He speaks energetically to audiences throughout the globe, tirelessly conveying his messages of hope, community and service - always with a great deal of chutzpah and laughter. David’s unique style of self-mastery and leadership coaching and speaking strikes a chord with wide variety of audiences, young and old alike: Many a conscientious global CEO has benefitted from David’s help to spearhead a more sustainable and ethical leadership focus in their boardroom. For further information visit www.positiverosity.com and www.davidfoxpitt.com


About Neil Laughton

Neil Laughton is a former Royal Marine Commando and member of the Special Forces. His Passion for adventure has found him leading numerous expeditions on 7 continents by land, sea and air. He summited Everest with Bear Grylls, circumnavigated the UK on a jet ski and piloted a flying car across the Sahara Desert. A Penny Farthing ride across the length of Great Britain should be a walk (ride) in the park for Neil.


About Hendricks Gin

Hendricks is a deliciously super premium gin. Handcrafted in Scotland in MIniscule batches by William Grant & Sons, Hendricks is the only gin that uses a marriage of spirits from both a Carter-head and Copper Pot Still, a combination that produces a divinely smooth gin. In 2018 Hendricks’ Master Distiller, Lesley Gracie was awarded ‘Gin Distiller of the year’ by the World Gin Awards, in recognition of her ground-breaking work. For further information visit… www.hendricksgin.com

Please also contact lucy@systemyzed.com for more information