Three generations of the Hanson family from Antrim cycled 377 miles from Kerry to fundraise for Tearfund and Jubilee’s work to tackle the causes and effects of climate change.
John Hanson, his son Jonny and Jonny’s 10 and 11-year-old children, Bethany and Joshua, took on the challenge to mark the 40th anniversary of their grandad’s 13,000 mile round the world cycle from Dungannon with friend John Rodgers.
A book about that epic journey in 1981 and 1982, which raised £50,000 for Tearfund, is on display to this day in the Ulster Transport Museum.
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Rev John Hanson said of the journey: "The main purpose of the round-the-world cycle was to draw attention to the appalling that millions of people didn’t have food to eat or clean water to drink."
This year, Rev Hanson, his son and grandchildren set off from Tralee on August 14 on two tandems for the 307 mile cycle to Jubilee Farm, Co Antrim.
Joshua and Bethany, who just finished P6 and P7 at Olderfleet PS in Larne, said ahead of the challenge they were “looking forward to seeing different parts of Ireland and feeling good about cycling across it”.
Their dad Dr Jonny Hanson told Belfast Live after they finished the impressive feat: "Altogether, we completed 366 miles from Tralee to Larne.
"The journey was tiring and challenging but hugely rewarding. Just like our collective progress towards sustainability!"
"We're using the cycle to raise funds for the work of Jubilee and Tearfund in tackling the causes and effects of climate change, and to highlight the need for action on this issue from church leaders and churchgoers in particular.
"The ‘get-up-and-go’ that characterises these cycling adventures is the same ‘get-up-and-go’ required to transition our economies and societies to sustainability. Everyone has a part to play."
You can still donate to their fundraiser here.
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