On the day the Paris Olympic games kick off their action, Swansea eyes will be firmly on inspirational Llansamlet-born best friends Elwyn Lee and Finley Greenall.
Both just aged 17, the selfless teenagers have come up with a mammoth cycling trek of Olympic proportions where in tandem they plan to ride from the south to the north of Wales and back in just over a week.
The dedicated duo’s remarkable journey will see the pair cycle the round trip from Swansea to Holyhead where they will face not just the elements, but the wild mountainous terrain of Snowdonia.
All of this before climbing Wales’ fifth highest mountain range in Glyder Fawr on their trusty bikes with all their gear.
In what will be an emotional test of endurance and character, the pair believe their strong friendship, determination and dedication to raise money and awareness for mental health charity Mind will get them through the tough moments.
The hope is then that others suffering with their mental health will see that it is ok to open up and reach out about problems when life gets overwhelming, and things are always better shared.
“Mental health is a really important aspect for both of us,” said Finley.
“I really struggled through the COVID period and through my GCSEs. I’m a lot better than I was then, but at the time I was in a terrible mental state.
“I picked this charity [Mind] to raise awareness to help people who are going through the same thing and can access some sort of help.
“We decided we wanted to do a big ride, but we didn’t have the motivation to do it.
“It was then a combined idea. We always have ideas going through our minds and one day we thought we would do this for charity.
“If we have an idea, we both go through the same thought process of what needs to be done.
“It was a little spontaneous at the start, but we have trained our hearts out for this.
“We have been trying to get as many miles as possible during the day as we both work shifts and then it’s fitting training around them.
“Training is pretty much there now; we have a lot of things to get ready for, but we still have to work.
“There have been early starts before work or late finishes after, but it has to be done.
“I did a ride with my friend to Brynamon and back and got in at 12.45am and was back in the gym at 5.30am, four hours later. It’s all about the training and when we can fit it in.
“It will be a big challenge, but we are confident about it and will help each other to complete.”
Elwyn, who has been best friends with Finley since the age of three, also has had tough experiences. He found speaking to his long-time mate and opening up helped him through the bad days.
“In the last few years, I have lost a good few of my family members,” said Elwin. My aunt and my bampa both passed within a month of each other, and it was tough.
“My cousin’s dad also died a few years previous so now we look after the two of them a lot. It has affected everyone deeply in different ways across the family.
“We [Elwyn & Finley] have always had ups and downs but have muddled through things as good friends. I couldn’t have a better mate to do this with – we motivate and keep each other going.
“Not just when we are training, but in everyday life. We both think the same for a lot of things.”
With just one rest day planned to recuperate, the boys will head back south. They will finally then be greeted by their proud family and friends waiting at Talycopa Primary School – the place where the challenge will both begin and conclude.
“The support we have got at the start and at the end will be what gets us through this,” enthuses Finley.
“We know our family and loved ones will be there for us and making them proud is important to us and gives us motivation.”
“We have given ourselves from Saturday [27th July] to Saturday [3rd August] which gives us eight days to complete,” continued Elwyn.
“It will be three-and-a-half days up. When we are in Holyhead, we will have a rest before we take on the same timeframe on the way back.
“The first day will be 80 miles, 70 on the second, and 34 on the day we climb Glyder Fawr.
“It is the fifth tallest mountain in Wales, and we know we have to climb it with all our gear that we are carrying but we are determined and will take it as it comes.
“It may sound less miles, but it will take us about seven or eight hours to go up and descend.
“It will also be rocky coming down so we will have to be careful, we don’t want to risk injury.
“We know we can do it. We have done some different rides with inclines, various surfaces and terrain like the valleys.
“When we finish, we don’t know what is going to be next. We may go for something bigger, who know’s… we also may think, I really don’t want to do that again!”
Elwyn and Finlay’s challenge is to raise money for the mental health charity Mind. To donate to the gofundme page click here.
To follow the lads progress they will also be updating their social media with Elwyn and Finn’s charity bike ride available to follow on Facebook.
[Lead image: Elwyn Lee and Finley Greenall]
