HAMPSHIRE FREEMASON CYCLES AND SWIMS HIS WAY TO OVER £93,000 FOR CHARITY

A dedicated Freemason from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has achieved an extraordinary milestone, having personally raised over £93,000 for a wide range of charitable causes through a series of gruelling long-distance cycling and swimming endurance challenges.

John Donoghue a member of multiple lodges within the Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight, has spent years tackling epic feats of physical endurance. His achievements range from cycling across European mountain ranges and entire countries to completing a 50-mile sponsored swim.

His most recent feat in 2026 saw him cycle 800 miles along the demanding northern route across the Picos mountains in Galicia to Santiago de Compostela and back. This single journey raised £13,000 for the Freemasons’ Charity (MCF) and an additional £1,740 for ‘Lifelites’, a national charity providing assistive technology to children in hospices.

A Legacy of Extraordinary Endurance Challenges

John’s remarkable fundraising journey spans well over a decade of high-intensity personal challenges, including:

• Gibraltar to Dorset (1,000+ miles): Cycled from the Rock of Gibraltar to Branksome, Dorset, raising £17,000for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI).
• Edinburgh to Portsmouth: Cycled the length of the country, raising £7,000 for the Royal College of Surgeons.
• The Hampshire Grand Tour (2010): Cycled to every single Masonic Centre across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB), raising £15,000.
• Help for Heroes (2011): Completed a series of cycling challenges raising £10,000 to support injured military personnel.
• 50-Mile Ultra Swim (2022): Took to the water for an arduous 50-mile sponsored swim, raising £7,000.
• Camino del Norte (2024): Joined by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Nigel Edwards, John cycled the rugged Camino del Norte route to Santiago de Compostela, raising £20,000.
• French Camino to Finisterre (2025): Cycled the French Camino to Santiago and on to “the end of the world” at Cape Finisterre, raising £20,000 for the Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF).
• Picos Mountains Circuit (2026): Cycled 800 miles over the challenging Picos mountains in Galicia to Santiago and back, raising £14,740 combined for the Freemasons’ Charity and Lifelites.

 

Inspiration & Community Impact

Speaking on what drives him to take on such demanding challenges, John said:

“Every time I get on the bike or dive into the water, I know that every mile covered is helping someone through a difficult time. Whether it’s supporting medical research, assisting wounded veterans, or providing technology for children in hospices, the motivation comes from knowing the tangible difference these funds make.

“I am immensely grateful to my fellow Freemasons, family, and friends across Hampshire & Isle of Wight, and beyond who have supported and sponsored me over the years. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

The money raised by John over the years has directly benefited non-Masonic charities such as Help for Heroes and the Royal College of Surgeons, as well as children’s health causes and Masonic charitable trusts that support local communities across the UK.