Former UK Special Forces Soldier Dean Stott has smashed the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to cycle the length of one of the longest highways in the world, completing the feat on 12th May 2018 in 99 days, 12 hours and 56 minutes.
Dean began his incredible journey on 1st February 2018 to raise money for Heads Together, a St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation charity partner, and to bring the conversation about mental health up a gear. This is a cause close to his heart. Money raised will be shared between eight charity partners that form part of the Heads Together campaign and donations can be made here.
Dean sustained a devastating knee injury whilst serving in the Special Forces and saw his military career cut short as a result. He struggled to adjust to civilian life back home in Aberdeen - but he found a new track. Inspired by his friend HRH Prince Harry, with whom he trained in the military, Dean embarked on this extraordinary journey to shine a light on mental health issues, and raise £1 million for the Heads Together campaign.
He has faced brutal conditions and gruelling terrain cycling from Ushuaia (Argentina) to Prudhoe Bay (Alaska, USA). During this difficult challenge, he pedalled over 13,400 miles, climbed 166,000 metres, burned 900,000 calories and passed thousands of road signs! He had previously obtained the record for the fastest time to cycle the length of South America, completing the feat on Wednesday 21st March 2018 in just 48 days and 54 minutes.
Dean commented: “This journey was one of the hardest things I have ever done. After over two years of training, I’m delighted to have not only finished but broken two Guinness World Records. There were moments where I thought I couldn’t finish but the support has helped me make it to the finish line.
Thanks to people like HRH Prince Harry, the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation and the Heads Together charity partners, mental health is being spoken about much more and I hope by doing this, I have been able to inspire even more people to speak out and get the help they need. For now, I’m off to put my feet up and spend some time with my wife and two children who I’ve missed incredibly."
Dean’s challenge is being supported by the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, which is committed to helping mental health causes. Money raised from Dean’s challenge will be shared between eight charity partners that form part of the Heads Together campaign and donations can be made here.