Businessman Dan Croxen-John is undertaking an epic 10-day journey that will see him cycle from Land’s End to John o’ Groats to raise money for Re-engage. 

Dan, 53, who runs e-commerce company, AWA, has been a dedicated volunteer for the charity for some years, helping as a driver, host, call companion and now coordinator for tea parties in York, where he lives with partner Jane and their four children. 

He has been training for the near 1000-mile journey for several months but had to rest for a few weeks recently after catching covid. He aims to raise £12,000 for Re-engage and his company will match all donations. AWA gifts 5% of its annual profits to charity. 

Dan, who is no stranger to endurance challenges will set-off from Camborne on May 28 and hopes to complete the mammoth journey on June 7th in John o’ Groats. He will be accompanied by friends, Karl Palin and Chris Colcutt, who are all members of the York Pedallers Group. 

Dan, who was inspired to help Re-engage by his close relationship with gran Lou, who died in 2012, said: “It’s going to be a very tough ride, especially the first three days where I’ll hit some mountainous hills, but it will all be worth it. I’m delighted to be raising money for Re-engage as the charity does so much to bring happiness to older people who might otherwise be very isolated.  

“When my grandfather died, my gran told me how lonely she was. That upset me, thinking of her alone and with not much to look forward to. So I vowed to do something about older people feeling lonely.  

“As time has gone on, I have become clear that I want to help reduce loneliness amongst older people.”  

You can follow Dan’s journey - which will be taking him through, Holsworthy, Bridgwater, Tewksbury, Stoke-on-Trent, Clapham, Lockerbie, Glenfarg, Aviemore, Golspie and finally to John o’ Groats - on his Instagram page at www.awa-digital.com where he will give regular updates. 

In recent times, Dan’s company has paid for an electric cycle to provide rides for older people in York and donated three exercise bikes that allow care home residents to enjoy virtual ‘cycling’ through whichever location and country takes their fancy.  

His previous endurance efforts have included cycling 135 miles in a day from Morecambe to Filey and taking part in the 2019 Barcelona Iron Man triathlon, which involved a two-and-a-half-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a marathon which he completed in 12.5 hours.  

The money he raises will help Re-engage re-launch tea party groups across the UK, many of which had to be suspended during the pandemic. It will also raise funds for the charity’s telephone befriending service which involves volunteers making regular phone calls to older people.  

Kitty Blackwell, director of fundraising and communications at Re-engage, said: “Dan is a fantastic volunteer and supporter of Re-engage and we are hugely thankful that he is undertaking this arduous ride to help lonely and isolated older people.  

“We will be with him every mile of the way and look forward to seeing him past the post on June 7th.  

“The money he raises will ensure there are fewer lonely older people – something his gran would be proud of.”  

If you want to help Dan raise money for Re-engage you can donate here.