UK Youth supporter ‘Pedalling for a Purpose’

It will be a real family affair when UK Youth supporter Matt Price saddles up for a special challenge.

Matt and his son Charlie have already cycled from London to Paris – and now they are doing it again, this time joined by Matt’s youngest son Freddie.

And the trio are “Pedalling for a Purpose” – they hope to raise £10,000 for UK Youth when they tackle the iconic ride.

Matt, vice-chairman of UK Youth’s board of trustees, said: “We will be embarking on an unforgettable 500-kilometre, three-day journey as we pedal our way from London to Paris, all for a cause close to our hearts – UK Youth.

“Our mission is to raise vital funds for UK Youth, an organisation dedicated to empowering young people across the UK. Every pedal stroke brings us closer to providing opportunities and support for the next generation.

“It’s a good excuse to twist people’s arms to donate a bit of money towards UK Youth, so that’s a good benefit.

“I did this exact same ride with the same organisers back in 2017 and had a great time. I did it with my oldest son, Charlie, who would have been 19 at the time. I haven’t done a huge amount of cycling in the intervening years. The pandemic put paid to that, while somebody stealing my bike didn’t help.

“However, I decided last year I wanted to do it again. I’ve just turned 50 and want to prove to myself I can still do it. One of the motives of getting back into it was to regain some fitness.

“And I’m doing it with both my sons this time, so it’s nice. Freddie was just a little bit too young last time, as he was still in school.”

Matt, managing director of financial services consulting firm 10th Bridge Consulting, is confident in his training regime, having completed a large number of miles on an indoor bike trainer, alongside a couple of long outdoor rides with Charlie, a consultant with 10^th Bridge, and Freddie, new partnerships manager at social learning network Apolitical and a former UK Youth public affairs assistant and engagement and advocacy intern.

Matt, of Wapping, London, said: “I’m at the point where it’s just keeping the legs turning over and trying not to get an injury beforehand.

“Distance wise, I find I find that once you get to a certain level of fitness, you know you can do it and on the days you just have to go that bit further than you normally go and just make sure you get your feeding right, eating the right stuff and in the right intervals and hydration.

He is confident Charlie, aged 26, and 24-year-old Freddie, who live in London’s Docklands, will both be able to cope with the ride – “eight to nine hours a day in the saddle” – as well.

Matt said: “The difference for me and Charlie is that when you’ve been through it, you know what to expect, it loses that fear factor. I think with Freddie, there’s a little bit of apprehension, but he’ll be fine. He’s done a couple of marathons, so his fitness levels are fine.”

Early start

Setting off from near Hampton Court Palace on Thursday, June 13, at an “anti-social” time, they head to the Kent Coast for a late afternoon ferry to their overnight stop in Calais. Day two sees them cycle to Amiens for another overnight stop, before heading for central Paris on day three.

Matt said: “The first morning we start at 5am, or something like that. I’ll be honest, that’s the bit I’m not looking forward to, because it means getting all the equipment ready at about 3am.”

However, he admits it will all be worth it when they arrive in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, on Saturday, June 15, at about 4.30pm.

“One of the coolest bits last time was when we got into France and particularly into Paris, was we can use motorcycle outriders that actually have the same powers as police to stop traffic. It was great – we didn’t stop for traffic lights, junctions, anything.

“The last 20 miles or so we all grouped up into one big peloton of about 300 bikes and rode non-stop into the centre of Paris. It was just an extraordinary experience.”

Finish line

Waiting for Matt and his sons in Paris will be his wife Lynn – although she will be arriving in a little bit more comfort, via Eurostar direct from London.

Matt admits UK Youth is a cause close to his heart – not least because it was through the charity that he met New Yorker Lynn.

Lynn is regional vice-president at London’s Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane, host of past UK Youth gala dinners, and served on the organising committee – alongside Matt.

Matt had first got involved with UK Youth in 2014, through friend and fellow cyclist, Graeme Swan.

“I’m a huge motor racing fan and Graeme said, ‘oh, I’m on the board of a charity and the president is Nigel Mansell’. He said, ‘I should get you along to one of our events and I’ll introduce you to him’, so that was the start of it.

“I went to the gala dinner that year and Graeme was true to his word and I met Nigel. I probably had a bit too much to drink and spent too much in the auction. I got identified as a mark and then got invited to be part of the organising committee for the following year. And the rest is history…”

To support Matt, Charlie and Freddie, see givengain.com/project/matthew-raising-funds-for-uk-youth-76327

About UK Youth

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 8,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org 

UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability, including Hatch, a youth employability programme run in partnership with KFC. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes