A motorcycle-fanatic is revving up for a super-sized challenge with a difference – riding the length of Great Britain on a tiny copy of the Honda Z50 ‘Monkey’ bike.
Steve Clay is tackling the 838-mile mission in memory of his baby nephew and raising funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
He plans to leave Land’s End on 28th May and, after camping stops in Shrewsbury and Glasgow, arrive in John O’Groats on the 30th – coincidentally his 43rd birthday.
It promises to be a major challenge for 6ft 1in Steve, as the seat on his rare Honda Monkey bike is just 775mm from the ground. Overall, it stands 2.5ft tall.
He decided to do something ‘out there’ as a way of thanking EACH, which provided end-of-life care for nephew Parker, as well as supporting his sister, Sam, and her husband, Kyle.
Parker had Edwards’ syndrome, a rare and incurable genetic condition, and died nearly a month to the day after being born on 12th March 2024.
“It’s still very raw,” said Steve, from Leiston, who is hoping to raise £5,000 and will be joined by friend Carl Prior, riding an iconic Honda CT90 from the 1970s.
“I’m not the kind of guy who gives hugs and cuddles. Emotionally, I don’t display my feelings like most.
“Doing something practical like this is my way of showing how much I care, while raising funds and awareness at the same time.
“Sam and Kyle are 100% behind me, and, when I asked them who they wanted me to raise funds for, they both said EACH.
“There was no hesitation, and they were full of praise for the care and support they received at The Treehouse (EACH’s hospice in Ipswich).
“They felt safe there. It was a less clinical environment than a hospital, the staff were so dedicated and helpful and it meant so much to them that the entire family could come and visit. They couldn’t praise EACH enough.”
Although Parker died at home, he received care at the hospice towards the end of his life.
“It was emotional torture for the whole family,” added Steve, who is married to Dee, who has helped support the adventure.
“It was a miracle he was born alive, to be honest. Throughout Sam’s pregnancy, they were told the syndrome was incompatible with life.
“Parker’s birth put an emotional strain on the whole family, bringing everyone closer together.”
Steve thought about taking on this mission last year, but life was too hectic at the time. He then started thinking about it again in February, and the challenge is called ‘The Slow Way Up’.
“It’s easy to procrastinate,” he said.
“However, it’s now or never, and this is something I dearly want to do.
“Parker’s still fresh in everyone’s minds and, while we, as his family, will obviously never forget him, we understand that life moves on.
“I’m motorbike-crazy and was one of those kids who loved anything with an engine.
“I have seven bikes in total, including different ones for different conditions.
“However, doing this challenge on a normal bike would have been too easy and comfortable. They’re built for touring and riding on motorways, and I could easily do this trip in a day.
“The Monkey bike, in contrast, definitely isn’t built for a journey of this nature and that’s what makes it so exciting.
“I said to myself that if I’m doing it for charity, I want it to be a bit special and quirky – and a bit ‘out there’.
“People have said my back will suffer, but I’m more worried about my hips.
“My legs are going to be cramped up, and, if they’re not in the right position, my left knee keeps hitting the horn.
“The vibrations are pretty extreme, too, and my hands will be numb and pretty sore right from the beginning.
“It’s going to be hard but do-able and I’m excited to get started.
“I’m sure there’ll be times when I question my sanity, but there will be others times when the scenery is beautiful and it’s a real joy.”
In a car, Steve’s trek should take around 20 hours. However, he will be travelling at an average speed of 40mph and the petrol tank only lasts around 60 miles.
He expects to be in the saddle around seven hours a day, in addition to an extra three to five, factoring in breaks and refuelling.
“I thought about booking into a bed and breakfast, so I’d have a bit of comfort and a good night’s kip at the end of each day,” said the self-employed heating engineer, who bought the bike – a modern copy of a Honda Z50 – for £800 in February.
“However, I’m stubborn and would rather do things the hard way. I love a challenge, and if someone tells me I can’t do something, I want to prove them wrong.
“I know it’s going to be tough, but I’ll do whatever it takes because it’s for a cracking cause.”
Steve will be carrying his tent and sleeping bag in an army backpack. He plans to attach a photo of Parker to it, as well as the EACH logo.
To show your support and sponsor Steve, head here. You can also follow his progress by checking his dedicated Facebook page.
