Mark Schmid

Manchester to London - 2025

My Activity Tracking

404
mi

My target 220 mi

Please help increasing awareness for Autism & raise funds for Ambitious About Autism

People on the autism spectrum perceive the world with their own eyes and socialize with others in their own way. If we compare with a computer, they use a different operating system as Linux, MacOS or Windows. Autistic human beings step out of their comfort zone every single day to fit in a society not made for them.

The idea of the Manchester to London race is to replicate for a single day what every autistic person goes through all their lifetime. By pushing mental and physical abilities every participant will reach the point where “Making it to London” becomes the only goal. This is an analogy for the effort autistic people go through when evolving in our world.

Regardless of fitness and training, all participants arrive in London exhausted. Sooner or later most will ask themselves “Why am I doing this?”. Well, I have done this 10 times already and will do it as long as my body permits. For the simple reason it is the best day I spend on a bike every year. It’s worth it just for the incredible human beings I have met over the years. The fact we all do this to generate awareness for Autism and fundraise for Ambitious About Autism adds another layer. M2L does something no race or sportive will ever replicate.

My daughter was 10 years old when I started riding this and has embraced the cause early on. From baking muffins to accelerate my fundraiser she’s taking up the challenge of riding it herself. So 2025 will be a Father Daughter adventure like we have never done before.

Daniel Lloyd has raised over 15’000 GBP thanks to the video posted on GCN's YouTube channel. Find out more on this in my Blog Posts further down. I believe and hope we can achieve the same together.

Every amount you add to this fundraiser will help Ambitious About Autism standing with autistic children and young people. They champion rights, campaign for change and create opportunities for autistic young people and their families.

Each participant pays his subscription fee and travel arrangements, all you add to this page goes directly to Ambitious About Autism.


Thanks for joining this year's fundraiser campaign.

And keep riding, you never know whom you inspire while doing so.

Mark

 

My Achievements

Shared page

Self-donated

Added a profile pic

Added a blog post

Received 10 donations

25% fundraising target

50% fundraising target

Fundraising target reached

50% distance target reached

Challenge complete!

My Updates

Temple Grandin speaking of Autism

Sunday 30th Mar

How your support can make a difference

Monday 17th Mar

Little strokes fell great oaks 

£5 could help parents and carers experiencing challenging situations access vital information and support through our Talk about Autism online platform. 

£10 could buy seeds and gardening equipment for our horticulture programme. Our ‘Seed to Sell’ initiative helps autistic children and young people enjoy time outdoors and develop their entrepreneurial spirit.

£25 could reduce loneliness and isolation through an autistic young person accessing a special interest group through our Ambitious Youth Network.

£50 could support a family in crisis. Our family support team provide telephone advice and guidance on welfare, health, and legal matters.

£100 could provide autistic young people with one-to-one careers information and guidance. With very few autistic people in employment, providing this support is vital to accessing the workplace.

£200 would fund a day’s learning for our autistic pupils on our nature plot Saplings. There, pupils learn how to grow vegetables and flowers and engage in their education in this unique outdoor setting.

£3,500 could support an autistic job seeker to access an internship, including training and recruitment support for the small business supporting them.

£10,000 could help us create tailored resources and toolkits, co-developed with autistic young people, that give employers guidance on making adaptations to their recruitment practice.

Work experience at Ambitious about Autism colleges’ : our staff perspective

Sunday 9th Mar

Find out why GCN broadcaster Dan Lloyd will ride with us (jump to 15:27)

Thursday 6th Mar

Here is why we ride Manchester to London in a day on our bikes

Wednesday 5th Feb

Thank you to my Sponsors

£150

Vânia + Dirk

Bon anniversaire, Mark!

£150

Gladys Bétrisey Schmid

Seul on va plus vite, ensemble on va plus loin 😍 so proud of you ❤️

£100

Mark

Let's go for #11

£100

Anton Schmid

I'm joining next year!

£100

Hélène Champrenaud

£50

Dy

Enjoy the ride! You're slaying!!!!

£50

Inès Rossetti

£30

Laura Marino

YOU ROCK

£30

Nikkita Tenza-kearney

Go go go! 💪👏😘

£10

Reed Kneale