Thirteen-year-old Mo Speyer and his father, Charlie Speyer, a schoolteacher and head of science and psychology at Queen’s, have completed a remarkable two-week cycling journey from John o’ Groats to Land’s End. Covering an impressive 1,855 kilometers and climbing nearly 16,000 meters—almost twice the height of Mount Everest—they braved tough conditions, including a puncture and a broken wheel, to reach their goal.
Their ride raised £5,000 for Smile Train, a charity dedicated to providing life-changing surgery and support for children born with cleft lips and palates worldwide. The cause is deeply personal to Mo, as his younger sister was born with a cleft condition.
Before starting the challenge, Mo shared, “This summer, I’ve set myself a big challenge, cycling from John o’ Groats to Land’s End. I’m raising money for Smile Train, which helps children born with cleft lips or palates get the surgery they need. It means a lot to me because my little sister has a cleft lip and palate, and I have seen how difficult it can be.”
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The journey required them to carry all their own gear, camp overnight, and cycle through a variety of weather conditions. Mo remained motivated by his commitment to the cause: “I know the reason I’m doing it will keep me going when it gets hard.”
Smile Train uses donations to fund vital services such as speech therapy, nutritional support, and complete cleft surgeries, transforming lives around the world.