A charity cyclist from England has set off on a 1,500km ride which will take him from Switzerland to the Isle of Man.
Gary Shaughnessy CBE is Chair of the Z Zurich Foundation, a charitable foundation funded by various members of the Zurich Insurance Group.
Gary is scheduled to arrive at Zurich House on the Isle of Man Business Park on September 17.
His epic ride began in the Swiss Alps on September 1 and will follow the EuroVelo 15 route along the Rhine. After crossing Europe and arriving in the UK, he plans to complete the Great North Run half-marathon (on foot, not by bike!) on September 13 before taking a ferry from Heysham and completing the final leg in the island.
Zurich Isle of Man’s Stephanie Hatton said: ‘We’ll be following Gary’s progress and are looking forward to giving him a massive Manx welcome when he finishes his ride here.
‘More than a cycling challenge, Gary’s journey is about promoting empathy, wellbeing and the power of communities coming together to create positive impact.
‘Along the way, our Zurich colleagues in Europe and the Isle of Man will be supporting him with fundraising efforts and celebrating the charities, organisations and individuals helping to make a difference.’
The bike ride is part of a year of sporting challenges that Gary has set himself in 2026 to mark his 60th birthday.
He has committed to try 60 different sports and in doing so will be raising funds for Parkinson's UK and the Personal Best Foundation.
Following his own Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2015, Gary has become a passionate advocate for the charity and uses endurance sport both as a means of managing his condition and to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes.
Over the last decade, he has taken on a remarkable series of fundraising challenges – including more than 60 marathons, the Arch to Arc triathlon, wingwalking and more - raising more than £500,000 for charity.
Find out more about Gary’s challenges online at www.garyschallenges.com