Wirral son and mum cycle through Sri Lanka’s catastrophic cyclone to raise money for Claire House

A Wirral sales engineer and his mum braved a devastating cyclone to cycle almost the length of Sri Lanka to raise money for Claire House Children’s Hospice.

Jake Baigent, 26, and mum Judy had expected some rain for their epic challenge covering 340km – just over 211 miles – at the end of November, as the country in South East Asia was entering the monsoon season.

But they ended up battling through Cyclone Ditwah which brought relentless rain and landslides that destroyed entire villages and led the government to declare a state of emergency as it dealt with the worst natural disaster in decades.

Jake says:

“The weather was horrific with the worst rainfall in Sri Lanka’s recorded history, so it made a difficult challenge even harder.

“We knew the weather wasn’t going to be 100% sunny because it was coming towards the monsoon season and a lot of it was in the highlands, but we hadn’t anticipated a cyclone which has left villages still under water and was horrendous. Hundreds of people sadly lost their lives because of it.

“Often we were cycling through sideways rain and gale-force winds which were almost pushing us back, so it was really hard.”

But he adds:

“I’m incredibly stubborn and I kept reminding myself that if I had said I was going to cycle across Sri Lanka then there wasn’t a hope in hell that I was going to stop.

“And I also reminded myself what, and who, I was putting myself through mental and physical strain for; children and families who are in far worse positions than I was, and that puts it into perspective.”

Jake hadn’t cycled for five years before joining his mum – who’s completed a host of feats to raise around £70,000 for Claire House over many years – on the Sri Lankan trek which took them from Yapahuwa Rock, one of Sri Lanka’s most significant historical sites, to Udawalawe National Park on the island which lies just 30 kilometres south-east of India.

He pedalled for around seven to eight hours every day for five days from November 23 to 27 to complete the route.

And as well as the weather which threatened to stop him in his tracks, the hills provided an additional struggle.

“One day we were cycling towards Horton Plains in the national park – which has dramatic cliff viewpoints known as World’s End and Mini World’s End – and the only way up and down is along a 4km stretch which goes from 1,800m above sea level to 2,200m, and the gradient was about 25% in the howling rain and winds.

“That has to have been the worst part.

“There were 27 of us in the group cycling, and only eight of us made it up.

“Me and two other guys rallied together and we were taking it corner to corner and trying to motivate each other, screaming to each other to get going and to do it.

“Mum was in the van at this point because she was having problems with her bike and didn’t make it, shouting to me to keep going, and physically I got to a point where I was counting my breath between corners to stop focusing on the task and the pain in my legs.

“It was intense and so cold, but I wasn’t going to be one of those who didn’t make it.  I had two voices in my head, one screaming at me to just stop and the other saying carry on, you can do it.

“There were tears of joy and pain at the end of it, and just about every single emotion you could encounter.”

Jake did get the chance to see the beauty of Sri Lanka too:

“It’s awe-inspiring just how stunning it is, the never-ending canopy of trees; words can’t do it justice. And there’s the wildlife – the elephants and monkeys that we saw.”

Jake has raised £3,500 for Claire House and says it won’t be the last challenge he takes on.

“If I can do something that will raise money for charity and be an experience then I’m going to do it.  I already have a couple of things in mind at the other side of the world.

“Through the mental and physical strain, the torrents of rain and wind, and everything me and mum went through in Sri Lanka, the overwhelming feeling is one of enormous pride.

“My one goal in life is to help people – that’s something mum has instilled in me.

“And knowing I can do that, in whatever way possible, however difficult, means the world.”

You can still donate to Jake Baigent’s Fundraiser for Claire House here.

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