Dozens of cyclists embark on 290-mile bike ride in honour of murdered MP Jo Cox

Cyclists from across Britain as well as those from across the world from as far as New Zealand are set to ride 290 miles from Yorkshire to London in memory of murdered Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox.

The ride marks ten years since the mum of two was killed outside her constituency surgery in Leeds in June 2016.

The event started just a few weeks after Jo Cox's death and has taken place every year since.

In that time, more than 360 different cyclists have completed the journey, riding150,000 miles in total, the equivalent of six times around the world. Many more have joined in along the way.

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The ride takes four and a half days and involves 13,000 feet of climbing. The cyclists set off from the Princess Mary Athletics Stadium in Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire this morning and finish in Southwark in London on Sunday July 26.

GB News was at the start point in West Yorkshire and spoke to Jo Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, who is also the Labour MP for Spen Valley.

"There's so much that we've got to be proud of that's been done in Jo's name - it's just been 10 years since she was murdered, and what has kept us going as a family is the way that so many amazing people have done things in Jo's name to show what our country is really about," she said.

"We've got all these amazing people today, from amazing backgrounds, all walks of life, celebrating the things we have in common - not agreeing on everything, because that would be unrealistic and very boring, but celebrating common ground.

"My background is in sport and cycling is a really important way of doing that, because it doesn't matter what your opinion is, you've got to get up that road, up that hill, and the Jo Cox way is a very important part of Jo's legacy.

"No-one is pretending we don't have challenges in this country, no-one is pretending that there's not things we need to address, but these are the stories that need to be told and this is what our communities look like, all these amazing people coming together from all over the country and all over the world."

Sarfraz Mian is a businessman from Stokesley in North Yorkshire. He had never met Jo Cox nor visited Batley or the Spen Valley when he took it upon himself to organise the ride in her name just a few weeks after her murder.

He firmly believes that the ‘more in common’ message is more important than ever.

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He told GB News: "When I heard the message that Jo said in the Houses of Parliament, it totally resonated with me - people getting together, helping one another and doing things just to get on.

"I thought what's the best way to celebrate the best we've got within the country, to do a bike ride that brings people together from all communities, all walks of life and all ages. The youngest person that's ever done it is 12-years-old.

"If we look at what is going on in the world now, with all the trouble and strife, this message, that bounced around the world when Jo was murdered, about having more in common, needs to be embraced even more. It is remarkable saying this ten years after such a tragic event, but it feels like the message is even more poignant, significant and important to humanity.

"I think the ride is important because it is a reminder that there is all this wonderful stuff that goes on up and down the country, from Cleckheaton to London.

"It is a hugely positive thing that brings together all sorts of people from all walks of life. So many people have done it multiple times, and they keep coming back."

Ruby Boyden, aged 27, heard about Jo Cox’s murder at home in New Zealand, and then read about The Jo Cox Way online.

She travelled across the world with her friend Issy Doudney, also 27 and from New Zealand, to take part in the event this year.

"We're both keen and keen cyclists, and it's just great to get behind, a really timely and important message at the in the current climate of division," said Issy Doudney.

"Over in New Zealand, we felt the shock waves of the news of Jo’s murder. Her message really resonates with me - it’s easy to see that our society is becoming increasingly divided.

"Joining the ride is a political choice for me to promote the messages that Jo stood for and that The Jo Cox Foundation continues to lobby for."

Her friend Ruby Boyden added: "I thought it would be great to join, not only as a lovely way to meet people cycling for a good cause and an excuse to see the English countryside, but as a political choice.

"It’s a reminder to turn toward community not away from it, particularly in times of increasing polarisation and divisive rhetoric.

"The ‘more in common’ message continues to resonate, as a positive and hopeful message, and this bike ride feels like it embodies that."

Cyclists young and old are taking part in the Jo Co Way this year, and the eldest rider is 80-year-old Kath Lyons from Skipton who is pedalling along the route for the fifth time.

She told GB News: "Unfortunately, ten years after Jo's death, it's not really changed a big lot in many ways, in fact, in some ways it's worse.

"So it's actually trying to do something to make people aware of, you know, we can do things and it's better to talk and find we've got more in common with people than we maybe initially thought."

Click HERE to find out more about work of The Jo Cox Foundation - and if you’d like to support the riders, you can donate HERE.

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