A man has completed a gruelling challenge in aid of a cause that helps people with their mental health.
Nathan Coyne, from Bury, rode 100 miles on his bike from Heywood to Wollaton, Nottingham, in eight hours and nine minutes, raising money for UK suicide prevention charity Andy's Man Club, which campaigns for men to share their feelings.
The 26-year-old smashed his original target of £500 on his JustGiving crowdfunding page, raising more than £1,000.
He trained 300 miles in the weeks prior to the ride and sported a custom t-shirt made by the charity.
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A former rugby player, Nathan grew up around men deemed "too masculine" to open up to others about their feelings, and therefore holds Andy's Man Club and its purpose close to his heart.
Nathan said: “Many people are struggling, especially men in their 20s trying to navigate their way through life.
“They’re expected to be tough and provide without being open about their feelings.”
Nathan has also held a live stream on his TikTok account, where he spoke to other content creators to spread the word about the ride, with former Team GB judo Olympian Ashley McKenzie donating £50 on the stream.
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Nathan added: “People post on social media and many viewers might not take action, but the message of talking to others about what you’re going through could hit one person who’s seen this bike ride, and that’s why I do it.”
Nathan is also no stranger to pushing himself for the cause he is so passionate about, previously riding 368 miles from Manchester to Dover during lockdown and completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.
He added: “I do some pretty crazy things and if I’m going to do these things, I can give back while doing it and kill two birds with one stone.”
Going forward, Nathan, who felt a "great sense of achievement" when he arrived in Nottingham, plans to complete the famous cross-country route from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
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