Ecotricity heroes: The 500-mile cycle challenge
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On Thursday 10 April 2025, Leanne and Jon – two of our amazing wind turbine technicians – set off on a 500-mile cycle challenge from our northernmost windmill in Dundee to Ecotricity HQ in Stroud.
You'd usually find them far above the ground, maintaining our wind turbines across Britain, but for five days they swapped the high life for bike life to raise funds for the MS Trust.
The charity provides specialist training for MS nurses and vital care for people living with multiple sclerosis – a cause close to their hearts as Jon’s father was recently diagnosed with MS.
The highs…
The scenery along the route was a real highlight for both Leanne and Jon, along with the support of family and friends.
Leanne said: “The best part for me was the beautiful scenery we got to see along the way, particular in Scotland and the Lake District. I love animals and we got to see so many through the countryside, which kept me distracted from the aches and pains.”
Jon added: “What truly kept me going during the tough times – when every part of my body and mind wanted to stop – was the overwhelming support from family, friends and everyone who donated.”
… and the lows
The physical effort of riding 500 miles in five days took its toll. Jon suffered from cramp in his quads on the first day, problems with his knee on the second.
He added: “The last two days were particularly tough due to horrendous saddle sores. I couldn’t even sit down and had to cycle the entire last day standing up!”
All that alongside, as Leanne recalls, “a few instances of being sick, sunburn, cramps and a lot of shouting at hills that were round the corner! These however were counteracted by the beautiful scenery, helping farmers catch escaped lambs and amazing support from friends and family who met us along the way and cycled sections with us.”
An amazing success
There’s no doubt that Leanne and Jon’s ride was a serious challenge. 100 miles per day is a lot of distance and there are countless hills in the way, but their spirits were high as the donations kept coming into their Just Giving page.
They hit their first target of £800 months before they set off and had to raise it twice; it now stands at over £2,700 of donations for the MS Trust.
On Monday 14 April, Leanne and Jon finally rolled into Stroud to be welcomed by a big group of cheering fans.
All of us at Ecotricity are hugely proud of their efforts. If you’d like to show your support, you can donate to the MS Trust online.
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