Longest Day Challenge 2026 - Land's End to John O'Groats in 24 Hours on a low-budget motorcycle!

In memory of

Sandra MacDonald, John MacDonald, George Patience & Alan MacRitchie xxx

My Story

On the longest day of the year, June 21st, the challenge is to leave Land’s End at sunrise and get to John O Groats before sunrise the next day - a journey of over 1000 miles in 24 hours. 40 hardy souls will be taking on the challenge, with the combined goal of raising £100,000 for Cancer research UK. We'll be riding a prescribed route, avoiding motorways and with designated pit stops along the way. We'll be navigating quite a few towns and rush hour traffic, but the biggest obstacle will be completing the ride on a bike that costs less than £600. Luckily I've managed to source myself an old Kawasaki ZX6 from 2001, which is in need of some serious TLC...and an MOT. Hopefully with a bit of work, the bike will get me from Inverness down to the starting line in Lands End, ready for the challenge to start at sunrise on the 21st. The ride is going to be a true test of stamina and bike fitness, (as well as a sense of direction), whilst also nursing a totally inadequate and inappropriate bike for the job! My knees and backside are not going to forgive me for the cramped riding position, and I'm also told that I'm going to be a hallucinating, tearful wreck by the time I reach John O'Groats - but that's all part of the challenge too. If that's not bad enough, I'll also be riding the challenge on my dodgy Kawasaki, dressed as a Fresian Cow (COW-asaki) 🐄 In the end, any discomfort of mine is only going to be temporary and nothing in comparison to what those battling cancer are facing each and every day, so please consider supporting this effort. Any donation, big or small, will help fund vital research and give hope to those battling cancer. Thankyou very much for your support! Cheers Andy x