In 12 days from May 23rd Town fans Kieran Leggett and Chris Atkin will be cycling from John O'Groats to Land’s End - taking in a climb up Ben Nevis - to raise money for AJ's Legacy, a charity run by the parents of their friend and fellow Blue Aiden Jones, who was killed by a drink-driver in 2009. Kieran told TWTD all about the trip, the charity and Aiden.
The charity aims to support as many good causes as is feasible in our local communities, particularly assisting young people and families with special needs.
I’ve known Jayne and Martin Jones, the charity's founders, since childhood, having grown up with their sons Aiden and Steve and I feel a true affinity towards the charity.
It has been agreed that all donations made will be given to a family from Stowmarket, whose daughter requires special equipment due to very poor health and our financial assistance will make a very positive impact.
Our training is taking us all over the UK where we are spending almost every weekend in search of hills. We have completed hundred-milers in Hampshire and Dorset, two in Wiltshire, Peterborough, the South Downs National Park and Dartmoor, and have up coming events in Cambridge, Kent and again in Surrey Hills.
As well as the weekend rides we are completing around 50 miles during the week and attending spin classes at Mid-Suffolk Leisure Centre. Every minute on the bike now will hopefully make our challenge that tiny bit easier.
We have been rallying friends, family and local businesses to help us in any way. In a short amount of time we have managed to recruit B&Q in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket Copycentre, Ridgeons, Jewsons, Taylors Carpets in Stowmarket, Bartons Bicycles and this is just a start.
For all of the businesses that go above and beyond we are offering social media coverage, word of mouth advertising as well as getting their logo printed on our cycling jerseys especially for the ride. We have already been published in the Bury magazines, been featured on BBC Radio Suffolk and are hoping to get lots more coverage from newspapers, magazines and local TV.
We will also be visiting local schools and running assemblies to raise awareness of our event, our chosen charity and to promote cycling in general.
One of the schools will be hosting events based around our near 1000-mile adventure which will see the children team up to run, cycle and row. This means we will be able to be a part of getting children excited about sport and achieving their own goals as teams and individuals no matter the distance.
This is without doubt a huge goal of mine and Chris's but it wouldn't feel right doing it without giving something back to the community and knowing that we can make a difference.
That is after all our aim, to raise awareness of small local charities doing their bit, getting communities united and having some fun doing it, while hopefully raising money.
Aiden was a season ticket holder since the age of six, firstly in the family section of the Britannia Stand, then when he reached the ripe old age of 18 he moved to the North Stand Lower, Area 5, Row X, Seat 54 and I know his mum has carried on purchasing that ticket since he died on May 1st 2009 aged 20.
His ashes were interred at the North Stand end because that's the only place he would rest happily.
Aiden’s parents and I often joke and say we reckon there's some pretty good banter flying around Portman Road when nobody is there. Aiden was a true blue.
Read more about the trip on Kieran and Chris’s Facebook page, donate here, read more about AJ’s Legacy here and view their 978-mile route here.