Craig’s 4,750 Mile Cycling Challenge for the BDFA
This June, dedicated fundraiser Craig Chadburn is preparing to take on an extraordinary endurance challenge – cycling an incredible 4,750 miles from North Cape in Norway to Tarifa in southern Spain, with the goal of raising £5,000 for the Batten Disease Family Association (BDFA).
Craig’s inspiration for taking on this challenge is fourteen-year-old Emily, who lives with CLN3 Batten Disease.
Batten disease is a rare genetic disorder that causes waste material to build up in brain cells, leading to progressive neurodegeneration and ultimately cell death. It is a fatal condition, primarily affecting children.
There is currently no cure, and most available treatments manage the symptoms of the disease, rather than the underlying cause.
There are 13 different genetic types, but all forms of Batten disease share common symptoms – progressive vision loss, seizures, cognitive decline, loss of speech, motor impairment, and premature death. Symptoms can appear in infants, children, or teenagers and worsen over time.
“I met Emily’s dad during an after-dinner speaking engagement that my wife organised as part of her work. After hearing her dad speak that night, I knew I had to try to help.”
As a father of three children himself, the impact of hearing about Batten disease stayed with him.
“I couldn’t imagine what Ricky was going through. After hearing about Emily’s situation and the life-limiting challenges Batten disease brings, I knew I had to try to raise money.”
His challenge is nothing short of monumental. Covering an entire continent by bike brings not only physical demands, but huge logistical hurdles too.
“There’s no direct flights or ferry crossings,” he said. “To even get to the start line I’ll need to drive to Hull, catch a ferry to Amsterdam, and then drive all the way up to North Cape.”
With extreme distances, multiple countries, and varied terrain ahead, Craig hopes the scale of the challenge will capture people’s attention and support.
“I had heard of people attempting and failing the North Cape to Tarifa ride and thought it would be an impressive enough challenge, and it’s also long enough to give people chance to get behind it.”
To put the distance into perspective, Craig’s previous longest multi-day ride – Land’s End to John O’Groats – was around 980 miles.
“Even if I reach that distance on this ride, I will still have 13 countries left and will only just have left the Arctic Circle and Scandinavia.”
Training for such an epic journey has been a challenge in itself. Juggling work, family life, and hard training has required some serious dedication.
“I started training back in October and have banked a few thousand miles so far,” Craig explained. “I’ve been trying to fit in as much cycling as possible around work, my wife, and our three children.”
With the start date approaching, his training has ramped up significantly.
“I’m in the ‘build phase’ at the moment, trying to cycle around 20–25 hours a week. week before starting my taper, when I will reduce to around 12 hours a week cycling.” he said. “The hardest part of the training is definitely the UK weather – I’m not 21 anymore, so the recovery process can be as hard as the actual training.”
Looking ahead, Craig knows the journey will test him both physically and mentally. From Arctic conditions to extreme heat, the route will push him to his limits.
“I’m very much looking forward to cycling in the 24-hour daylight of Norway and Finland, and hopefully seeing reindeer in their natural environment,” he said. “Temperatures around 20°C and strong headwinds will make for a very tough start.”
As he heads south, the conditions will change dramatically.
“Heading into mainland Europe with the mountains of the Alps, Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada, and temperatures hitting mid 40’s – I will definitely have days where I will question my ability and life choices!”
But Craig is determined to keep going, driven by the cause behind the challenge.
“Knowing people are reliant on me and supporting me by donating will keep me pushing on.” he said.
Throughout the journey, Craig plans to share regular updates to his Facebook, Instagram and TikTok via Raisewithcraig so supporters can follow every mile.
Ultimately, Craig is taking on this enormous ride not just for the personal challenge, but for the families affected by Batten disease across the UK.
“I genuinely believe that with determination, amazing support from friends and family, and a lot of luck, I can complete this epic challenge and raise money not only for Emily, but for all the children and families who face this horrific illness.”
Craig’s journey will be long, demanding, and unforgettable – and every donation will help drive him forward while supporting the vital work of the BDFA.
If you’d like to support Craig’s incredible challenge, please visit his fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/craig-chadburn-3