Former Bromsgrove Standard paperboy sets off for Lands End ready for fortnight pedal - The Bromsgrove Standard

Former Bromsgrove Standard paperboy sets off for Lands End ready for fortnight pedal

Bromsgrove Editorial 2nd Aug, 2019   0

A FATHER and son are setting off for Lands End today, Friday, ready for a fortnight’s pedal to John O’Groats.

Derek Overs, aged 58, is a keen cyclist and member of Bromsgrove Olympique CC.

His son Matt, is 25, a former paperboy with the Bromsgrove Standard, he only took up the sport two years ago but has since gone on to complete an Iron Man triathlon.

Rugby is more his sport and he turns out regularly for Bromsgrove RFC.




Taking the two of them down to Cornwall from their home in Aston Fields is Sheree, Derek’s wife and Matt’s mum, who’ll be waving them off from the furthest point of the county.

“It’s a real challenge for them, to do it in a fortnight, but it’s one I’m sure they will meet,” she said.


Matt, who’s twin brother Tom last year cycled from Bromsgrove to Istanbul, works for Deutsche Bank in Birmingham and is raising money for their chosen corporate charity Cure Leukaemia.

He admits to being: “Nervous, scared, optimistic, ambitious…a complete multitude of emotions. It’s an epic challenge for myself, and for a great cause.”

Dad Derek though, is a season cyclist having completed many long distance one day challenges, known as sportives.

An employee of BMW at their Mini plant in Oxford, he’s raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and affects more than 520,000 people in the UK…a figure which is constantly rising,” he said.

The duo will be doing the ride without any outside support, covering around 1,050 miles at an average of 75 miles a day.

As with all Lands End to John O’Groats (LeJoG) challenges, some of their toughest days will come early on as they pedal through Cornwall and Devon before the road flattens out in the north of Scotland.

To support them, visit Just Giving online and key in matt-overs or derek-overs.

Rugby is more his sport and he turns out regularly for Bromsgrove RFC.

Taking the two of them down to Cornwall from their home in Aston Fields is Sheree, Derek’s wife and Matt’s mum, who’ll be waving them off from the furthest point of the county.

“It’s a real challenge for them, to do it in a fortnight, but it’s one I’m sure they will meet,” she said.

Matt, who’s twin brother Tom last year cycled from Bromsgrove to Istanbul, works for Deutsche Bank in Birmingham and is raising money for their chosen corporate charity Cure Leukaemia.

He admits to being: “Nervous, scared, optimistic, ambitious…a complete multitude of emotions. It’s an epic challenge for myself, and for a great cause.”

Dad Derek though, is a season cyclist having completed many long distance one day challenges, known as sportives.

An employee of BMW at their Mini plant in Oxford, he’s raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and affects more than 520,000 people in the UK…a figure which is constantly rising,” he said.

The duo will be doing the ride without any outside support, covering around 1,050 miles at an average of 75 miles a day.

As with all Lands End to John O’Groats (LeJoG) challenges, some of their toughest days will come early on as they pedal through Cornwall and Devon before the road flattens out in the north of Scotland.

To support them, visit Just Giving online and key in matt-overs or derek-overs.

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