550-mile cycle ride for suicide awareness passes through Salisbury

Paul and Karen Smith embarked on their first-ever Wonky Heart Challenge, cycling on a route creating the shape of a heart around England and Wales, both in honour of their son, Harry, who died of suicide ten years ago, and to raise funds for Papyrus, an organisation that works for the prevention of suicide in those under 35.

Paul and Karen lost their son after he received A-Level results in 2013 at the age of 17.

With A-Level results season being a particularly stressful time for many young people, Paul and Karen wanted to spread awareness.

Wonky Heart route (Image: wonkyheartchallenge.co.uk)

Paul said: “The main reason we’re doing it is to raise awareness of the vulnerability of kids this time of year when it comes to exam results.

“It’s something that with young minds they think things might assume huge importance which longer term really aren’t.”

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Paul wrote on the Wonky Heart Challenge website that he had woken up last year to find that Karen had left bed and went downstairs, “frantically brainstorming an ambitious charity venture, having woken up and realised that we were approaching the ten-year anniversary of losing Harry.”

Original plans were for a Christmas tour of major cities across England in a truck, before logistical challenges proved insurmountable.

Therefore, although neither of them considers themselves a cyclist and their bikes were over 30 years old, the couple settled on the cross-country cycle challenge as the route to make an impact.

Karen said: “As a team we’ve raised about £21,000 so far.”

Paul and Karen arrived in Salisbury on Wednesday, August 16 on the second day of their journey, having cycled all the way from Winchester. They were seen off from Salisbury Cathedral by the Dean of Salisbury, Rev. Nick Papadopulos, the next day—exam results day—to embark toward Upton Scudamore.