This September, MD of DoorCo, Dan Sullivan is back in the saddle in support of mental health and suicide prevention, taking part in the latest Kelly’s Heroes challenge “From Rock Bottom, The Journey Back”.
“From Rock Bottom, The Journey Back” is the latest and most demanding cycling challenge yet for Kelly’s Heroes. Covering over1,265 miles and climbing 57,000 feet across 14 gruelling days, the team will ride through Spain and France, crossing into the UK to finish in Portsmouth, each pedal stroke a powerful symbol of recovery and determination.
The significance of this latest challenge lies not only in its distance, but its meaning. The journey begins at “Rock Bottom”, both a physical place and a metaphor for the lowest point in someone’s mental health battle. Day five of the ride coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September), marking a poignant moment of reflection and global solidarity.
“This ride symbolises what recovery can look like,” says John Hewitt, founder of Kelly’s Heroes. “From the darkest place, there is always a path forward. It won’t be easy, there are hills and setbacks, but with support, the journey back is possible.”
“The charity was founded in memory of Kelly Hewitt with a mission to save lives,” says Dan Sullivan. “Jayne and I both knew Kelly from the early days of starting DoorCo, along with our long association with Glazerite, of which Kelly was part of the customer services team at one time. When we heard the news of Kelly’s passing, we were devastated.
“When John decided to put his energy into creating the Kelly’s Heroes charity and the issue it was tackling, we committed to help in any way we can.
“We created the Pink door range in memory of Kelly, to raise funds for Kelly’s Heroes and to contribute in a small way to its running. Then when The Loneliest Road ride was mentioned to me by John, it provided another way to raise awareness and funds for the charity in a bigger way, but vitally providing the opportunity to increase much needed resources at the charity.
“The Loneliest Road proved to be a huge success both in Europe and USA, raising awareness and raising much needed funds and smashing everyone’s expectations.
“That was 2022 and now it’s time to dust of the bike and go again on a new adventure to the lowest point, which involves a much more challenging terrain and temperature conditions to encounter. This will again be both a physical and mental challenge and with your help, will raise a life changing amount of money for a cause very close to our hearts.
“Anyone who knows me well will know I am not great away from home for long periods of time and I am not great when also not in control, so riding from Gibraltar to the UK in 14 days with a team of 12, some I know and some I don’t, will provide its own challenges, both mentally, physically and emotionally, so this will provide me a personal challenge that will all be worth it if we can raise similar funds to last time.
“All donations are greatly appreciated and will spur me on to finish line.”
Find out more about the challenge and support Dan and the team with their fundraising endeavours via https://www.justgiving.com/page/daniel-sullivan-rockbottom2025.
