Jay Wynter

From Football to 780km: Why I’m Cycling for Mental Health

In October I will take on the biggest physical challenge of my life. I will be riding 800km from Sydney to Byron Bay over 7 days, with more than 8500 metres of climbing.

I’m doing it for the Black Dog Institute and their work supporting mental health research and helping people affected by mental illness.

But this challenge is also personal.

I’m a lad from England (Ashford in Kent) who grew up loving football. The game gave me some incredible opportunities. I used it to travel, coaching in the USA, playing in New Zealand and eventually Australia.

When I moved to Sydney in 2012, I was lucky enough to meet a top group of lads and sign for Northbridge in NPL3. Those boys quickly became much more than teammates. They are my brothers, and they still are today.

Then in 2017, football changed for me.

I suffered a major knee injury called osteochondritis dissecans, where a piece of bone beneath the cartilage dies and broke loose. The catching, locking and instability made getting back to football incredibly difficult.

After the operation and 6 months on crutches, I did everything I could to get fit again and tried to return, but ultimately the risk of the injury recurring was too high.

I was told by the specialist I couldn’t play football anymore.

That was a huge blow!

Football wasn’t just a sport to me. It was how I met my closest friends, how I travelled, and something that was a huge part of my life. One of the hardest things was knowing I couldn’t play alongside my brothers anymore.

So I had to find something else.

I became obsessed with the gym. I found golf (although I’m still not exactly setting the world alight 😂) it gave me another way to spend time with my mates. Even with the dodgy swing, I still beat them!

Now I’ve found cycling.

For the first time since that injury, I have found something I can fully send, and push my body to see what I am capable of!

So when I look at this challenge, I see more than 780km.

I see an opportunity to prove to myself that a knee injury doesn’t have to define what you can do.

I see an opportunity to push myself further than I ever have before and most importantly, I want to do it for people who are struggling with their mental health.

My training started in June. Cycling to and from work twice a week, a monster ride at the weekend followed by a recovery ride the next day. In addition there are 5 gym based sessions a week. The days where I cycle into work, I am on the road at 6.30am, a gym session at lunch before getting back on the road at 5.30pm. There have already been some tough days, tired legs, sacrificing time with the family and the lads and plenty of moments where I’ve questioned whether I have taken on more than I should.

But that’s the point.

You keep going.

I want my little girl to grow up knowing that when something feels impossible, you don’t necessarily have to accept that it is.

You put your mind to it, find a way and keep moving forward.

So I am asking for your support.

Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help the Black Dog Institute continue their vital work in mental health.

If you can spare anything, I would be incredibly grateful.

780k. 7 days. 8,500m of climbing. One very big challenge.

All for mental health. 🖤🚴‍♂️

Thank you for supporting me.

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Thank you to my Sponsors

$55.95

Simon, Amanda, Zach And Luke

Ohhhhhhhhhh yeeeeeea?

$30

Claire Friday

Smahed it Cuz! 👏🏾 Big love Claire, Paul & The Friday Crew

$55.95

Shane ,hannah , Ellidy

$55.95

Jodie Hoad

You are smashing in Jayboy!! Well done for setting your mind to this challenge. Super proud of you! Lots of love Jodes xxx

$54.75

Anonymous

$23.81

Sophie Taylor

$420

Nanny And Dave

Dear Jay - so proud of you - well done this is for such an amazing cause love Nanny and Dave xxx

$106.75

Holly Saunders

Good luck Jay, go smash it!

$55.95

Jamie Collins

Love it big man! All the best from the Collins’. Grind it out 👊 1, 2, 3 Hawkesbury!

$34.40

Laura M

Go on Jay!! Incredible cause and mammoth challenge 💪🏼

$55.95

Ash Saltzman

Love the backstory… exceptional effort! Good luck on the ride Jay and team.

$34.40

Laura Wynter

Good luck Jayboy. Very proud of you 💙

$106.75

Rosemary & Richard Stephens

Good luck , just it going

$23.81

Anna Tulloch

$55.95

Auntie Sandee

Go Jay - ride like the wind! I’m so very proud of you my darlin xxxxx

$55.95

Demi & Adam

Go Jay! You’ve got this 💪 making the fam proud!

$40

Lara, Willie And Tillie Xx

Go get em Jay! Huge achievement, you got this!

$106.75

Toya And Danny

Good luck. Making Ivy proud! 💪🦿

$106.75

Mark Taylor

Good luck Jay. All the very best.

$34.40

Charlie Taylor-smith

Good luck, Jay. Chas.

$11.92

Rhio Bowditch

Good luck!! Smash it

$30

Linda Smith

Good Luck!

$216.50

Chris Lindsay

$106.75

Peter Selberg

Jayboy the first and only geezer to turn up to my house in lyric after riding 100kms for lunch. Lyric to green jacket let’s have it you stiff Jamaican bobsled bike rider who can’t play 4 rounds of golf in a cart but can ride 800kms to qld….

$55.95

Lenny Wynter

well done yeah man enjoy the 😢 pain

$55.95

Wafty

Giiiiiiiit up LAD! Good on you! ♥️

$100

Chris Reid

The service never changes

$106.75

Robbie Liggins

Get it Jay! Proud of you mate 🫶🏼

$28.81

Roshan Gupta

Wishing you all the best for your 780 kms ride, Jay!

$106.75

Sara Cerone

You got this Jay Wynter LinkedIn

$216.50

Hap & Co

Wish you well Jay ! Massively important cause …

$55.95

Adam Parrelli

💙

$23.81

Alex Partridge

Go get’em mate!

$100

Ryan Mangan

800kms you’re gonna be stiff after that, as if you weren't stiff enough already 🏌🏽😉 That’s huge mate , best of luck! Great cause too, good on ya 👏

$50

Rob, Keira, Macy, Tyler, Louis & Arlo

You’ve got this cuz! 💙

$55.95

Mathew Bell

Good luck on the ride Jayboy. You are changing lives my man, remember that!

$200

Keith Wynter

Keep that blue flag flying high x

$200

Rich & Ayla

Easy work for you mate.

$106.75

Ry Hardy

Bruv totally agree with ya football and not seeing your bruvas that you did everything with even if I was screaming at you all lolll broke me a lot , so good on ya bruva you can do it geezer your built that way love ya and miss you and the rest, a hell of a lot . Up the bridge booming kiss me teeth

$106.75

Chris Ray

Good luck Jay boy. I’m sure there will be some tough times doing it but dig deep son. Much love Chris & Beth xx

$269.13

Anthony Zecchinati

One this jay boy. Proud of you for doing this. You are going to smash it. It’s been a please not just calling you a friend but calling you a brother

$55.95

Joe Harris

Love it Jayboy! All the best mate. P.S you can’t beat me at golf

$106.75

Michael Cole

Class this mate iv no doubt you’ll smash this 🙌 Ivy will be proud of her daddy. Up the Santa’s 🎅 YNWA

$60

Aaron Taylor

Good luck Jay boy. Great work fella, all the best

$100

Ferg & Lou

Supporting a great bloke for a great cause, rip In brother!

$106.75

Alan Bain

800kms! What a machine

$34.40

Grace Morton

Go on Jayboy!

$106.75

Stu Codling

Great cause Great example you are Jay

$106.75

Luke And Tasmin

All the best Jamie, what an achievement when you make it. Great cause and still something that’s not spoken about enough! Hopefully your hips move more on your bike then they do on your golf swing. All the best fella, will be following the journey!

$163.43

Greg Savage

Onya Jay!

$106.75

Shane & Lisa

What you’re doing is class Jayboy and something you should be really proud of. Such a great cause and one close to my heart. Wishing you all the best with it big man & we will be cheering you on the whole way. Smash it mate! Looking forward to catching up when you get out of Lycra in a few months time ❤️🚴

$106.75

Joe Haywood

Inspiration to all of us Jay. Since turning 40 mental health has played a big part in my life, every day being a battle due to neurological brain issues. Good luck with the ride, look forward to following the journey on the socials. Just make sure you are not behind Si so you don’t have to stare at his big arse the whole ride

$163.43