‘I’ve got nothing but my bike and a tent’ – Castleford man’s 4,269-mile challenge for mental health

Ben Dickinson, known online as ‘The Yorkshire Man’, has already cycled an incredible 2,134 miles through Europe and is now in Durrës, Albania, halfway through his mammoth solo adventure.

And this is no luxury cycling holiday.

Ben is riding a non-electric bike, carrying a tent and travelling without hotel bookings or the comforts many would take for granted.

“I sleep wherever he can,” he said.

"Sometimes by the side of the road or outside shop doors before getting back on the bike and continuing towards Spain.”

Every couple of days he tries to reach a campsite, giving him the chance to charge his power banks, freshen up and get some much-needed rest.

But Ben says the discomfort is all part of the message behind the challenge.

“I want to show that even when you've got nothing, you can still help somebody else.

“Mental health affects millions of men around the world, yet too many continue to struggle in silence.

"Every day, countless men face challenges such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and emotional hardship without reaching out for the support they deserve.

"Through this extraordinary journey, I hope to help change that.”

Ben has dedicated his time to the challenge to raise awareness of mental health and encourage donations to Mind.

And there is one audience he is particularly keen to inspire — his children.

“I want to show my children that even when life kicks you down to the bottom, you can help others. It’s a choice.”

The journey has already thrown some huge obstacles at him.

Among the toughest have been the remote stretches of road, where Ben has found himself cycling for vast distances without seeing another person or any sign of civilisation.

Then there has been the heat.

Temperatures have soared to around 50°C, turning already demanding days in the saddle into a battle of endurance.

But it was the Balkan Mountains that really tested him.

“The mountains just seemed never-ending,” he said.

"You'd get to the top of one climb and there was another one waiting for you.”

Despite the pain, exhaustion and isolation, Ben is refusing to give up.

His journey will now take him through Montenegro, Croatia and Switzerland before he heads towards his final destination in Spain.

And there is a very specific target waiting for him.

Ben hopes to roll into Benidorm on November 6, during the city's famous Fiesta Week.

But for Ben, reaching Benidorm isn't really the finish line.

“The real goal is to raise as much money and awareness for Mind as possible and show that something positive can come from even the hardest moments in life.

“Life can kick you down, but that doesn't mean you can't get back up and do something for somebody else.

“If I can do this with a bike, a tent and very little else, hopefully I can inspire someone else to believe they can make a difference too.”

Visit Ben’s fundraising page here to show your support.