“I am undertaking the ultimate UK endurance cycling challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG), the two furthest points apart on the UK mainland, in support of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF). The challenge starts on Thursday, 4th September 2025, in tribute to John, who would have been 40 this year,” says Dan Avey-Hebditch.
John Thornton from Ferndown, Dorset, was a young officer in the Royal Marines. He was tragically killed whilst serving in Afghanistan in 2008 at just 22 years of age.
UNIQUE ENDURANCE CYCLING CHALLENGE: LEJOG is a famous endurance challenge from the tip of southwest England to the tip of northeast Scotland, typically covering around 850 miles and taking an average of around 14 days. Dan’s ride extends the usual LEJOG route by over two hundred miles and thousands of feet elevation gain to a total of over 1040 miles and over 40,000 feet of climbing, across 40 counties, including a diversion to visit John’s unit – 40 Commando Royal Marines.
Dan will be riding the entire route solo, nearly 200 miles per day, in just 6 days. By comparison, celebrities and former elite athletes James Cracknell and Lewis Moody completed the standard route together in 8 days. Before the start at Lands End, Dan will be riding 100 miles from Ferndown Upper School in Dorset, where John had been a pupil, to the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon, where John completed his Royal Marines Commando training.
THE JOHN THORNTON YOUNG ACHIEVERS FOUNDATION: Dan and John share a deep bond from their youth in Dorset, attending the same schools and engaging in RAF cadet activities from parachuting and flying to leadership courses and The Duke of Edinburgh award, which shaped their paths into uniformed service and inspired Dan’s commitment to JTYAF.
The JTYAF actively supports young people locally, helping them make the most of opportunities to develop and follow their ambitions and dreams, whether in sport, academically, the arts, the community, or in their future careers. Dan and John’s remarkable journey is a testament to the importance of young people believing in themselves and following their dreams.
