“There’s no hill you can’t push your bike up.”
That became the rueful motto of Durham Masonic Cycling during their September 2024 challenge. It was a three-day, 150-mile coast-to-coast ride that raised an astonishing £30,000 for Teddys for Loving Care (TLC).
What started as an offhand suggestion in a podcast side room became a landmark event linking Freemasons, families, and NHS staff. It also delivered the four millionth TLC bear nationwide.
The Spark
The idea began in October 2024 when Mark Davies, Durham’s TLC Co-ordinator, joined John Thompson and Gavin Rowell on the Durham Freemasons Podcast. After recording, Gavin casually suggested that their next cycling fundraiser could support TLC.
Mark agreed instantly. “Honestly, I didn’t groan much at the prospect of another three days of saddle sores,” he laughs.
Together with fellow organiser Steve Piercy, Gavin mapped out a new route, the North Coast Ride, from the Humber to the Tees.
Why It Mattered
Durham Masonic Cycling had already organised six successful rides, raising £130,000 for various charities. But this one felt different.
The TLC initiative, now nearly 25 years old, has comforted millions of children in distress with the simple gift of a teddy bear. By coincidence, the ride would align with a historic milestone: the delivery of the 4,000,000th TLC bear nationallyand the 120,000th in Durham.
“This wasn’t just a cycle ride,” Mark reflects. “It was a chance to be part of TLC history.”
“These bears truly turn tears into smiles.”
The Build-Up
With routes and hotels arranged, the focus shifted to the riders. Spaces filled quickly. 33 cyclists signed up, supported by a backroom team including Stephen Willis, Craig Pattison, Harry Prince, Graham Clark and coach driver Arron Gilbraith.
Yorkshire North & East Riding’s Provincial Grand Master, Dr David Chambers, helped arrange lunch stops and warm welcomes along the route.
Fundraising was bolstered by a campaign masterminded by Durham’s new Media Adviser Keith Blundy, under the banner #TLCSpecialDelivery. Mysterious posts featuring Assistant Grand Master John Thomspon collecting a Teddy from the TLC and MCF HQ at Grand Lodge were followed by a social media explosion of teddy-themed posts, some even generated by AI, morphing riders into bears. “We may have gone over the top,” Gavin admits, “but we loved it.”
By the eve of the ride, over £15,000 had already been pledged.
Day One: Spurn Head to Bridlington
At 5:45am on Day One, bleary-eyed riders gathered at Durham Services, fortified by McDonald’s breakfasts.
But not everyone could make the start. Rider Paul Fryer, delayed by a family emergency, reluctantly withdrew. “Family first,” the team reminded him. Paul promised to complete an equivalent ride later, a promise he would honour in spectacular fashion.
At Wolviston Services, the team were cheered off by the Durham TLC volunteers and the giant nine-foot TLC bear mascot. Each rider received a commemorative cycling shirt, a goody bag, and a Teddy join them on the ride.
At Spurn Head, the starting line, the group paused for a minute’s silence in memory of Colin Elrick, a beloved member of the cycling family who had died earlier that year. Then, with helmets clipped, the journey began.
The first 25 miles to Hornsea were blessed with sunshine and a tailwind. John Taylor and the brethren of Alexandra Lodge No. 1511, joined by their wives and partners laid on a banquet for lunch and after heartfelt thanks and the presentation of a supporter’s plaque, the group rode on.
By late afternoon, 30 more miles had carried the team into Bridlington. “There were a few navigational detours,” jokes Steve Little, “but we all made it.”
The day ended with a convivial dinner at the Saffron Indian Restaurant, joined by Dr Chambers. The long walk from the hotel was broken by a “refuelling” stop or two. Cyclists’ recovery nutrition, Masonic-style.
Day Two: Hunmanby to Whitby
Day Two began not with pedalling but with publicity. Kelly Scott of BBC Radio Newcastle interviewed Gavin live on air. “I might need an agent,” he joked afterwards.
The morning’s ride was flat and pleasant, finishing at Hunmanby, where Dr Chambers, his Deputy Bill Glanville, and their wives offered extraordinary hospitality. Food was piled high, flowers were presented to the ladies, and another plaque was handed over. A raffle of a TLC bear, mysteriously won by Dr Chambers himself, added extra cheer and further funds to the charity pot.
The afternoon brought sterner challenges. The climb to Scarborough along the cinder path was long and unforgiving. Ice-cream stops provided a brief respite before the road to Whitby tested every ounce of stamina.
The final ascent into town via the brutally steep Khyber Pass left legs screaming, but spirits soared at the sight of the Royal Hotel.
That night, beers provided courtesy of Andy Whitehead of LWC preceded a fish-and-chip supper at the Magpie Café. AProvGM Tom Gittins and his wife Gillian joined the meal, lending further support.
A raffle of a handcrafted clock, donated by Ian Campbell of The Friends of Scarborough Court, raised another £320, won by Ronnie Fraser.
By the Numbers
- 33 riders
- 2 support vans
- 3 days
- 150 miles
- £30,000 raised
- 120,000th bear delivered in Durham
- 4,000,000th TLC bear delivered nationally
Day Three: Across the Moors
The final day was the hardest. After a gentle start, the route pitched the riders onto the rubble-strewn climbs of the North Yorks Moors. Bikes were pushed, shoes unclipped, and patience tested.
“It was more quarry than path,” one rider muttered. At Castleton, relief came with a stretch of tarmac until another cobbled ascent then descent reminded them that this was no easy finale.
A tumble by AProvGM John Henry, who forgot to unclip his shoes, became part of the day’s folklore. “It’s my annual fall,” he shrugged.
At Guisborough Masonic Hall, the weary team were fed and feted by Yorkshire brethren before being ushered back onto their bikes for the final push.
The Special Delivery
Time was now getting on and escorted by riders from Yorkshire North and East it was therefore a last sprint to Stockton that was required. Cheered on by onlookers, the team rolled into University Hospital Tees in Stockton, where they were met by Provincial Grand Master John Watts, perched proudly on his motorbike, and by the giant TLC bear mascot.
There, amidst applause from families, friends, and NHS staff, the riders handed over the four millionth national TLC bear and the 120,000th bear in Durham.
The bear was presented to a young patient, Zach, whose mother revealed that he rarely smiled. When the bear, instantly named Bob, was placed in his arms, his face lit up.
“There were tears in a lot of eyes,” Mark Davies recalls. “That moment showed us why we do this. These bears truly turn tears into smiles.”
The Home Stretch
With hearts bursting with pride from Stockton, the group pedalled to Billingham Masonic Hall, home of Eanred Lodge, Mark Davies’ mother lodge. There, final refreshments and heartfelt thanks awaited.
Gavin presented plaques to Billingham, to ProvGM John Watts, and to the riders themselves, before revealing the staggering fundraising total: £30,000.
And with that, he also announced next year’s challenge: the Coast and Castles Ride, from Chester-le-Street to Edinburgh. Look out for further details soon!
Epilogue: The Journey That Never Ends
Paul Fryer, who had to bow out of the main event due to a family emergency, was determined that his withdrawal would not be the end. True to his word, he soon embarked on a separate challenge: a 72-hour cycling journey, spanning all 12 hospitals in the Province of Durham.
At each stop, he delivered more TLC bears, supported by Mark Davies and at times by ProvGM John Watts, with volunteers turning out to greet them. The trio met NHS staff, families, and children, reinforcing the message that the TLC initiative is about more than numbers.
In total, Paul and his support team delivered an extra 250 bears, bringing comfort to even more children in hospital. His quiet determination echoed something fundamental about TLC: that it is an ongoing thread of compassion, not a one-off event.
The North Coast Ride closed in Stockton with applause, plaques, and the unforgettable moment when Zach hugged Bobthe bear. Yet Paul’s follow-up ride showed that there are always new chapters to write.
For Durham Masonic Cycling, Paul Fryer, and all who rode or cheered, the message is simple and enduring: this work does not stop here. Roll on next year, and roll on every small journey that carries forward the spirit of TLC.
Paul Fryer’s TLC Challenge
- 72 hours of cycling
- 12 hospitals visited
- 250 extra bears delivered
- Joined by Mark Davies and John Watts
- Built on the momentum of the North Coast Ride
The Riders
Dennis Bartholomew, Chris Batty, Mark Bibby, Alan Brice, Roger Collins, Mark Davies, Steve Davies, Mike Ellner, Stephen Foster, Colin Forster, Ronnie Fraser, Paul Fryer, Craig Gartside, Trevor Greenwell, Bob Hamilton, Steve Hanby, John Henry, John Hitch, Scott Jameson, Robert Kirby, Stephen Little, Malcolm Lynn, Darren Martin, Sean McLean, Laura Oliver, Steve Piercy, Gavin Rowell, Wayne Rumley, Mike Smithies, Paul Staines, John Thompson, Phil Twizell, Dave Wright.
Support Crew: Graham Clark, Craig Pattison, Harry Prince, Stephen Willis, Arron Gilbraith, Keith Blundy, and all the TLC Durham volunteers.
Beyond the Ride
The North Coast Ride was about more than miles or money. It was about a community of riders, organisers, volunteers, and families. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things, all in service of a small bear with an outsize role.
As Zach hugged Bob the bear in Stockton, the meaning of the journey crystallised. These rides are not only about endurance, but about empathy.
And as Durham Masonic Cycling look to their next adventure, one truth remains constant: roll on next year.
