Royal Navy Veterans to Cycle the Length of Britain and Climb Three Peaks to “Cycle Away the Stigma” for LooseHeadz
In May 2026, Royal Navy veteran and former rugby player Stu Baker will take on an extraordinary endurance challenge to raise funds and awareness for LooseHeadz alongside his best mate Steve Bailey – cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End, before climbing the UK’s highest mountains: Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon.
The challenge, titled Cycle Away the Stigma, will see Stu and Steve cover over 1,000 miles and 15,000 metres of elevation.
This is the 3rd challenge that Stu will have undertaken for LooseHeadz in 4 years – what a guy!
But this isn’t about the miles. It’s about the message.
Tackling the Silence Around Men’s Mental Health
Stu and Steve are Royal Navy veterans, former rugby players, and Stu is someone who has lived with depression, addiction, and a suicide attempt – all while appearing “high functioning” on the outside.
Like many men in sport, the military, and high-performance environments, he felt the pressure to stay strong, stay disciplined, and stay silent.
“From the outside, I looked capable and composed,” Stu shares. “Inside, I was struggling. Functional depression is dangerous because it hides in plain sight.”
Through Cycle Away the Stigma, Stu wants to open honest conversations around:
- Functional depression and why it often goes unnoticed
- Why men struggle to ask for help — even when they look “strong”
- The pressures of masculinity and identity
- The link between endurance, discipline, and mental resilience
- How sport and challenge can become gateways to better mental fitness
Why LooseHeadz?
LooseHeadz exists to use rugby as a vehicle to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health and save lives. Stu’s story embodies exactly why that mission matters.
“Rugby gave me belonging. It gave me an identity” Stu explains. “LooseHeadz are changing that narrative. They’re proving that strength isn’t silence – it’s speaking up.”
Funds raised through the challenge will support LooseHeadz in continuing to provide life-changing and life-saving support, deliver mental health training to clubs, and ensure members of the rugby community know they are never alone in a ‘life wobble.’
This Is More Than an Endurance Challenge
Cycling the length of Britain and climbing the Three Peaks will test Stu and Steve physically – but the real challenge is vulnerability.
By sharing their lived experience openly, they hope to reach men who look “fine” on the outside but are fighting battles privately.
This is about showing that resilience isn’t about pushing everything down. It’s about having the courage to speak up, ask for help, and support your teammates – on and off the pitch.
Get Involved
Their journey begins in May 2026. Over the coming months, they will be sharing training updates, fundraising milestones, and honest reflections along the way. Follow them on Instagram at @cycleawaythestigma.
To follow the journey, support the challenge, or donate to LooseHeadz: https://www.
Thanks Stu and Steve – you’re both legends.
#TackleTheStigma
