Six Months On... Celebrating World Record Breakers this Volunteers' Week
Six Months On... Celebrating World Record Breakers this Volunteers' Week
Well, it is certainly a weekend of celebrations across the nation as our incredible Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first British Monarch to reign for 70 years and enjoy a Platinum Jubilee. We are also celebrating the fact that it is six whole months since the magnificent Party with A Purpose spearheaded by Mintridge Foundation trustee, Jackie Scully achieved World Record Breaking Status on Jackie’s 40th birthday on 4th and 5th December as part of her 40 Before 40 bucket list! Wow, wow, wow!
We thought we would relive the 29 hour extravaganza once again (maybe, without the memories of walking up and down the stairs of Boom Cycle in our short breaks..) through some beautiful images from Gabriel Bush Photography as well as videos and memories from the team.
Jackie and her team broke the Guinness World Record for the longest static cycling class and raised a staggering £43,237.98 in the process for the Mintridge Foundation, CoppaFeel!, Mind and NHS Charities Together.
After thinking she'd never make 40, Jackie Scully was determined to turn her big birthday into a big opportunity to raise money and awareness for charity. The 40 days leading up to the big attempt was a mass fundraiser where Jackie encouraged as many people as possible to join her by contributing their exercise KMs (be that running, cycling or swimming) to a 40,000KM goal, which is one turn round the world. 40 days, 40,000KMs and £40,000. Why? Because 40 is a birthday she never thought she'd see, after being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32. And, attempting huge endurance challenges makes her feel alive, particularly after having her hip rebuilt in her 20s. 40,000km was reached and smashed with 43,027.7 km being the final total. Thank you very much everyone! Here is our previous blog about more of the reasons behind Jackie’s mammoth challenge.
This week is Volunteers’ Week which is an annual celebration of the contribution that millions of people make across the UK through volunteering. We want to shine a light on the 16 strong team sheet that completed the 29 hour spin class, volunteering their time and energy towards our charity! Thank you very much.
Jackie invested endless hours both before and after the challenge to ensure we all had the greatest experience and the record, so there is no better person to start our thanks with than with the kind and courageous Jackie. Your selflessness inspires us everyday and your desire for everyone to embrace the joy of movement. Everyone needs a Jackie in their life.
“Thanks to exercise and movement and a diary packed with little life achievements, I have found a way to live with the shadow of serious illness and turn my face to the sunshine.”
Where do we begin when we turn our attention to Frenchy? Thank you very much to the Boom Cycle team for hosting our challenge and thank you for bringing us the extraordinary Francesca Peak to lead from the front. Not only did Frenchy have to prepare and take part in the challenge but she also had to create a 29 HOUR PLAYLIST and instruct us all in the process. Wow. Your energy is infectious, and we quite simply could not have done it without you. As volunteers go, Jackie and Frenchy, you are THE BEST! Particular highlights included Musical Hour, Christmas Hour and a rather emotional PROUD by Heather Small for the closing moments.
Graham Twigg, Tom Fountain, Paul Lincoln, Claire Turner, Aileen Rice – Jones, Cameron Sharpe, Pete McHugh, Bernie Rowell, Annick Simon de Froimon, Anna Vassallo and Emily Grant were some of the extraordinary individuals that took the challenge in their stride fighting off challenges of injuries, nosebleeds and everything else that a 29 hour spin class presents you.
The team also included our founder, Alex Wallace, Olympian, Heather Fell OLY (one of our extraordinary ambassadors ) and previous Team Mintridge Fundraiser, Jemma Rix (you might remember us screaming from the rooftops about her Atlantic Row). Thank you for continuing to go above and beyond to help young people with their mental fitness through sport. You can check out Heather’s Global Triathlon Network episode about the challenge below.
There might be 16 names on the World Record but there were so many more people involved beyond the bikes:
Hype Team Extraordinaires included Michael, Hannah and the two Katies working tirelessly behind the scenes (organising food, media and everything in between) as well as front and centre dancing the night away to Frenchy’s epic playlist! We have never seen the sheer amount of food that was ready and waiting for us during our 5 minute breaks (Jemma Rix had a lot to do with this…yum yum!). Thank you very much to Deliveroo, Soreen & our wonderful partners at Nibble Simply for your support through vouchers and your delicious food. We have never appreciated it as much as we did during those December days!
It’s not a party without cake! Jackie’s Birthday Cake made by the very talented Margo Lettie was presented to Jackie on Saturday evening!
Graham Twigg’s family were constantly by our sides, pompoms and all! 2588 independent viewers tuned into our Twitch livestream at all hours of the day, we would love to know what your favourite hour of Frenchy’s Playlist was? Was it musical hour or Christmas hour?
Fun bikers and independent witnesses, thank you for bringing us the energy that we needed in the toughest of hours. We quite simply could not have achieved what we did without you. To the family and friends near and far, thank you for the beautiful videos and messages that created such a buzz for the challengers (and a few tears too).
Thank you very much to BBC News for sharing our story, which you can read just here.
Thank you very much to South London News for sharing our story, which you can read just here.
As our dear Ambassador, Eboni Usoro - Brown says when she goes into a fitness test, “It’s ok, I know I can do it as I’ve done it before”. Well… no one had ever done 29 hours on a spin bike before but I hope that Jackie Scully and her motley crew with the Jackiest of Jackie Challenges have inspired you to find your edges and enjoy the life in your days and not just the days in your life. Jackie, no words that are written here will give you the justice that you truly deserve. For now, we will simply say, “Thank You”.
“On Twitter last night a lady with cancer wrote and said our story had given her the inspiration she needed. That is why I do this.
You will never know the impact what you have just done will really have.
But just know, you have just gone and changed a whole bunch of lives.
”
Jackie with her parents!
We hope that everyone basks in the glory that they broke a Guinness World Record and we love that Jackie is presenting each one individually before they are in pride pf place in everyone’s home (like below).
Jackie and the 40 Before 40 Team won the “Fundraiser of the Year” award with the Mintridge Foundation in 2021.
“After months and months of training,
The day finally came about,
To celebrate Jackie’s birthday,
To scream, shout and let it all out.
As the awesome team assembled,
Determined to reach their goal,
Spinning for 29 hours,
Giving their heart and soul.
With Jackie’s inspiration,
and Francesca leading the class,
Cameron was in the second row,
With no padding on his ****.
There was Bernie in his tuxedo,
Looking rather dapper,
A team of super supporters,
Being noisy with their clapper.
There was Emily and Anna,
Having fun towards the rear,
Pedalling their hearts out,
With smiles and lots of cheer,
Heather the Olympian,
and next to her was Paul,
Keeping each other going,
Giving it their all.
Francesca kept us going,
With never a bad song,
Tom at front and centre,
Pedalling whilst singing along.
There was Alex with her laughter,
and next the super Annick,
I think the sight of a bleeding nose,
really put them in a panic.
There was Michael running all around,
and Hannah to fulfil our needs,
Passing drinks we asked for,
and managing our feeds.
In the second row at the end,
Was the determined Pete
Aileen in the middle
Going quietly about this feat.
Next the impressive Jemma
And then the courageous Claire,
They didn’t have the best of views,
I think we’ll leave that there.
Then Graham next to Jackie,
With yet another top,
This team of super troopers,
Were never going to stop.
There were people watching from around the globe,
As the targets began to fall,
Including one trip around the world,
Forty thousand kilometres in all.
Not forgetting those who came for fun,
To join the celebration,
Which ended after 29 hours,
With lots of jubilation.
There’s others who’ve not been mentioned,
Who also did their bit,
Apart from having to endure the stairs,
When needing to change their kit.
NHS Charities Together,
The Mintridge Foundation and Mind,
and Coppafeel will benefit,
From Forty thousand pound in kind.
Jackie who made this possible,
By bringing us all together,
You deserved the best of birthdays,
Which will be forgotten never.
And that we did it together as a team means more than I will ever be able to say.”
So…what are you waiting for? We would love to see you challenge yourself and we have places in events across the UK below:
The Vitality Big Half - Sunday 4th September 2022 (13.1 mile run)
Swim Serpentine - Saturday 17th September 2022 (2 mile swim)
Northampton Half Marathon - Sunday 25th September 2022 (13.1 mile run)
Great South Run - Sunday 16th October 2022 (10 mile run)
London Landmarks Half Marathon - Sunday 2nd April 2023 (13.1 mile run)
If you would like to understand more about our mentoring programmes with elite athletes and how they can support the young people at your school or club, please contact Katie Smith.
If you are considering supporting the Mintridge Foundation as a business, organisation or as an individual, head to our SUPPORT US page below.
The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.
Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as Fitswarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.
The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.
The Mintridge Foundation
Unit 4, Shieling Court
Northfolds Road
Corby
Northants
NN18 9QD
Tel: +44 (0) 1536 447106
www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk
