RED DWARF STAR TAKES ON ENDURANCE RIDE FOR GET ON AND SPORT RELIEF

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

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RED DWARF STAR TAKES ON ENDURANCE RIDE FOR GET ON AND SPORT RELIEF

Danny John-Jules, who plays The Cat in cult classic TV series Red Dwarf, and endurance rider Graham Hoskins are to undertake a gruelling ‘Iron Butts Challenge’ in aid of Sport Relief, and help raise awareness of the Get On campaign. The trip of a lifetime will see the intrepid pair circumnavigate the Mediterranean in a ride which will see them cover nearly 7000 miles across three different continents in just 15 days. 

The Iron Butts Challenge will see the duo pass through fourteen countries, experiencing diverse and scenic landscapes as they cross from Europe, into Africa, through the Middle East into Turkey and back to the UK.  The challenge is the creation of Graham Hoskins, who rode the 4,000 mile round trip in six days from London to Moscow in 2005 in aid of BBC’s Children in Need, having been motivated to do these challenges after winning his battle against cancer.

Danny John-Jules, a supporter of the Get On campaign which encourages people to enjoy the thrill of riding by taking advantage of a free one hour taster session, will join Hoskins on the epic trip as they aim to raise money for Sport Relief. The 49 year-old, is best known for his comic role in classic hit TV show Red Dwarf, which is as popular as ever with a new series being filmed later this year.

To finish the self-named Iron Butts Challenge, Hoskins and John-Jules will have to work together as a team to overcome the myriad of challenges they will face in what will be a thrilling trip. The pair will set off on two Honda Transalp 700s from Ally Pally on Saturday 27th February which is hosting the 2010 Motorcycle Show, run by the iconic Ace Cafe.

They will then cross over into France, down to Algeria by ferry, through Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey and back up to Germany, through France, returning to the UK on the 14th March. John-Jules and Hoskins will cover 480 miles on their shortest day and 630 miles on their longest – a trip not for the faint hearted!

With both John-Jules and Hoskins supporting the Get On campaign, the pair hope to encourage people all over the country to have a go at getting on two wheels and discover the great fun and adventure that can be had on a bike. Get On is a nationwide marketing campaign by the Motor Cycle Industry to encourage more people to take up riding bikes and scooters, and allows people over the age of 16 the chance to try out a free one hour taster session by registering at www.geton.co.uk. 

Danny John-Jules, Get On ambassador said: “I can’t wait to get the trip started. I’ve been a passionate rider for over a decade and have been around the world to biking events, but have never taken on a challenge like this. Riding offers such a great sense of fun and freedom and this trip should be the ultimate of all rides. It’s great to be able to help raise money for such an amazing project as Sport Relief and hopefully encourage some more people to get on two wheels via the Get On campaign.

The public will be able to follow the pair’s progress at www.geton.co.uk, where the riders will be writing a series of blogs and uploading pictures from their amazing adventure. If you would like to sponsor the pair for Sport Relief please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ironbutts

Get On is a three year campaign to get the nation biking and is funded by a levy on every motorcycle and scooter sold in the UK by participating Get On manufacturers and dealers
The official website www.geton.co.uk gives details of the companies who are supporting this campaign
Riding taster sessions are free and details of where they can be taken are on the website
You do not need a car licence in order to 'Get On' but must be aged 16 years or older
A motorcycle, or scooter if preferred, riding jacket, gloves and helmet will all be available, free of charge, at the training centres offering the riding taster sessions
Each taster session lasts for approximately one hour
All riding is conducted in a safe environment and does not take place on main roads