Sarfraz Mian, CEO of bit specialist Neue Schule, is organising an event that will pay tribute to murdered Labour MP Jo Cox’s zest for life and passion for people and communities – with the full support of her family. Named The Jo Cox Way, the gruelling, 260-mile cycle ride will celebrate some of the fantastic community projects taking place throughout the country – and raise funds for the charities Jo supported.
Cyclists from Yorkshire and the North East, who will be joined by others from across the UK, will leave Batley Market Square in Jo’s Birstall and Spen constituency, in West Yorkshire, on 17 August and arrive at the Houses of Parliament four days later (21 August).
Members of the public are invited to cheer on the cyclists or join the ride for part of the journey to show their support. A full route map will be made available shortly on The Jo Cox Way’s Facebook page.
Each leg of the five-day trip will see the cyclists stopping off to see the thriving community projects nominated by members of the public. The visits are designed to fly the flag for teamwork and neighbourhood collaborations that have had a powerful and positive effect on people and their environment. Anyone who would like to nominate a suitable project should send details to thejocoxway@gmail.com or by tweeting @TheJoCoxWay.
Sarfaz Mian, BEM, said: “I didn’t know Jo, but I was struck by her principles and beliefs – and the fact that communities are always stronger when working together. Jo worked all her life to make a difference in the world and, at the time of her death, people were pitched against one another in political arguments where our sense of humanity seemed in peril.
“When Jo died, the country was united in shock and grief. It made everyone stop, think and reassess what was important – and that was, of course, those same things that Jo campaigned for throughout her career. The Jo Cox Way is our tribute to her life, her beliefs and all the pockets of good work that go on up and down the UK, in our villages, towns and cities.”