First Pro Vegan Footballer Neil Robinson’s Cycling Challenge

The legendary Neil Robinson (the first professional vegan footballer in the world) is gathering a group of elite vegan athletes to participate in a cycling challenge. The cycling challenge is over 900 miles, from southern England to northern Scotland. The cycling challenge will raise money for charities and awareness for veganism at the same time.

I recently caught up with Neil, and was able to talk to him about his newest endeavor:

Vicki:  Neal, most people know you as a professional football player from the U.K. How did the idea for the cycling challenge (made up of vegan athletes) come about?

Neal: I met up with Dean Howell (the other vegan professional football player in the UK) at the recent London Vegfest in September, and he said he was doing a lot of cycling of late. Well, I’ve always wanted to do some sort of sporting challenge for charity and I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if the two vegan former footballers did a cycling challenge together for charity AND raise awareness of veganism at the same time?” So I emailed Dean with my suggestion and he agreed! Shortly after I thought, “Why not ask other vegan athletes from different sports to do the ride with us to raise the profile of veganism even more?” I drew up a list of vegan athletes I wanted and emailed them – some replied saying their schedules wouldn’t allow them to do the challenge, and some didn’t even reply!  

Vicki:  Can you tell us the basics of the cycling challenge…and what are your goals?

Neal:  The challenge is to ride the famous LEJOG route here in the UK – “Land’s End to John O’Groats” – from the southern most tip of England to the northern most tip of Scotland – over 900 miles. The challenge has been set up for 3 main reasons:

1. To raise funds for a variety of charities linked to animal rights, human rights, poverty, hunger, education, & environmental issues.
2. To raise awareness of the health benefits of a plant-exclusive vegan lifestyle for the whole planet.
3. To raise awareness of how we can all help to promote world peace by adopting the vegan lifestyle and embracing its core values of non-violence, non-exploitation, compassion, tolerance, kindness, & love to sentient Earthlings on the planet – both animals and humans.

Vicki:  Who do you have on board for the team so far?

Neal:  We currently have 7 team members: 

1. Dean Howell (former vegan professional footballer, UK)
2. Fiona Oakes (marathon runner – UK)
3. Christine Vardaros (the world’s first VEGAN professional cyclist – USA)
4. Austin Barbisch (competitive natural bodybuilder, rower, runner, personal trainer, & massage therapist – USA)
5. Nancy Farzan (former amateur bike racer, runner, rock climber, mountaineer, personal trainer – USA)
6. Kevin Selker (track cyclist- USA)
7. Neil Robinson (former vegan professional footballer, UK)

Vicki:  How are you training for the event?

Neal:  I’m currently just training indoors at the gym on a spin bike doing lots of aerobic and anaerobic sessions mixed with cross-training on the Concept Rower, the stepmill and the treadmill. From January, I’ll be out on the bike building up the miles in my old legs!

Vicki:  Are you looking for any additional elite vegan athletes for the team?

Neal:  I’ll either just stick with the 7 of us, or, if any other elite vegan athletes want to contact me to join the team, I’ll probably stop at 10.

Vicki:  Are you accepting donations for the cycling challenge? If so, how can someone donate?

Neal:  We hope to start accepting donations in December – I’m waiting to get the new website launched before pushing the button on everything.  Keep checking our website for updates at: www.veganathletesforpeace.com

To learn more about Neil, please visit his website at: www.neilrobinsonvegan.com

Image Source:  Neil Robinson

 

 

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