In a Bid to Save Lives, 27-Year-Old Skateboarding Enthusiast Journeys 250 Miles

The skateboarding community is renowned for its passion for pushing boundaries. Now, a young man from Bristol will be taking this passion to new heights. He has announced a skateboarding challenge that will see him cover over 250 miles in a single stretch. While most individuals participate in such challenges for personal achievement, this young man will be doing it for charity.

Ed Shaw is raising money to support those in the skateboarding community who have lost loved ones to suicide. Shaw will begin the journey on Sunday and aims to complete the run by August 19. He has meticulously planned the entire route and is excited to take on this remarkable feat.

Embarking on an Epic Skateboarding Journey for a Noble Cause

The 27-year-old skateboarder is preparing to embark on this journey that will test both his physical and mental endurance. Ed Shaw has been skateboarding since the age of 12, but he has never attempted something of this magnitude before. He starts the journey from Land’s End on August 13 and hopes to reach his destination in Bristol by August 19. He will end his journey at Bedminster’s iconic Dean Lane skate park.

Ed Shaw spoke to Bristol24/7, saying, “I think it’s going to be a real challenge”. But the young skateboarder was “super stoked” about the opportunity. He said that this journey has given him the rare opportunity to test his limits, but he was more excited by the cause he has championed. Shaw said, “Pretty much everyone has been impacted by suicide in one way or another, and it sucks”. He wants to use his journey to promote more awareness about mental health and the need to seek help on time. Ed Shaw got the idea for this campaign from other skateboarding pioneers who supported the same cause.

Ed Shaw following in the footsteps of his predecessors

Back in 2019, after skateboarding hero Ben Raemers took his life, his friend Barney Page did the same thing. Page covered the 941-mile ground between John O’Groats to Land’s End on a skateboard three years after Raemer’s passing. Beth Howells, a skater from Bristol, also inspired Shaw to take up the challenge through her ‘Keep Pushing’ project. Howells is exploring ways to use skateboarding as a form of therapy to overcome mental health issues.

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Both their powerful stories and impactful work urged Shaw to do something for the cause. Now he wants to make a similar impact saying, “This skate is just part of the catalyst for more conversations”. He aims to eliminate the stigma and taboo associated with discussing mental health. The British youth has launched a GoFundMe page that has already raised £1,645, all of which he will donate to The Ben Raemers Foundation. Ed will be skateboarding from sunrise to sunset, braving all types of weather, and he has extended an invitation for others to join him on this excursion. For those seeking more information about his journey or wishing to contribute to the cause, they can visit his GoFundMe page.

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