1 May 2024 Community

Dan and Andrew are record breakers whilst raising £1,400 for The Kirkwood

Kirkwood loves to hear about people's fundraising challenges and how those people face those challenges. One of these feats of extraordinary fundraising has ended up in the Guinness Book of World Records. 

Andrew Tomlinson and Daniel Johnson traveled on public transport from Land's End to John O'Groats in August 2023. They completed the challenge in a record time of 23 hours, 59 minutes and 44 seconds. The previous record was set back in 2016 and took over 24 hours. 

Luckily both Dan and Andrew work for the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds and so know a thing or two about buses, trains and timetables. 

The two friends arrived at John O'Groats elated at their achievement, if not a little tired by the end. 

The reason for taking on the challenge was not just about seeing if they could break the record, but also to raise funds for The Kirkwood. They raised a magnificent £1,400 for the charity in memory of Dan's dad Steve who The Kirkwood cared for in 2020. Steve died on The Kirkwood's In-Patient Unit in February 2020 after living with lung cancer. 

On why Dan and Andrew wanted to take on the challenge, Dan said: “We wanted to see if we could break the record and Andrew had put a lot of research in to begin with. As you can imagine with where we work we like to push public transport and see what it can achieve. After Andrew had done some research we quickly worked out we could break the record. At the same time I thought we could turn it into a fundraiser and with the way The Kirkwood cared so wonderfully for my dad, I wanted to give something back. The Kirkwood staff were amazing and I can't thank them enough. They made sure my dad wasn't in pain, they made him comfortable and gave him the chance to die in dignity with his family with him.

“The amount of money we have received through donations is just brilliant and very much appreciated.” 

Andrew also commented on the achievement: “I'm proud of what we have achieved and really grateful for everyone who has donated to our cause. I live in Huddersfield so I know how important the hospice is, but also Dan speaks so highly about the charity too. 

“When I was conducting my research I looked at various routes and ways to do it. When I looked at the timetables I realised everything could be done. 

“For most of the journey it ran smoothly but by the end we were, cutting it close. However we got there and did it in under 24 hours which was a great moment.” 

The journey wasn't without its problems though and was nearly scuppered by some cows at the end.

Dan explained: “To start with, we had to get a taxi to Land's End to start the journey on the first bus. As we were getting a train to Penzance we realised we needed to get a taxi from the train station to Land's End to catch the first bus. However we didn't have any cash on us so we had to go up and down the train asking for taxi money and explain what we were doing. Luckily some nice people gave us some. Then at the very end of the challenge we had ,to get a bus to John O'Groats. We are flying around these bends and suddenly there are these cows in the road. We were a bit nervous thinking we've come all that way and are so close only to be denied the record by these cows. Thankfully they moved and the rest is history.” 

Everyone involved with The Kirkwood would like to thank Andrew and Dan for their efforts and also say well done for becoming official Guinness Book of World Record holders.