Bus driver completes latest charity challenge between Anfield and Kassam Stadium

Eight months of intense preparations culminated in a huge release of emotion for Oxford Bus Company driver Mark Temple after completing a mammoth cycling challenge.

Mark cycled between Anfield and the Kassam Stadium in a remarkable 10 hours and five minutes, all in aid of Sobell House.

Alongside his support team, Mark departed Anfield – the home of his beloved Liverpool Football Club – shortly after 4am on Sunday 14th June.

Mark, who has been an Oxford Bus Company driver for 15 and a half years, said: “It felt right to start at Anfield, and I got goosebumps as I’m a massive Liverpool fan. It made me a bit nervous as there’s just something special about Anfield.

“The weather was beautiful and the conditions were perfect. During the first 10 miles, I was a little bit nervous, too eager and I wasn’t concentrating on the plan.

“But then I started taking in the scenery and enjoying the culmination of eight months of preparation.

“My only real physical struggle was when I got to Chipping Norton and was faced with a couple of huge hills, and I started to have a little bit of self-doubt, but as soon as I saw the signs for Woodstock, it was like I had new legs.

“Normally I’m quite muted when I complete these challenges, but there was an explosion of emotions. I picked up my bike and lifted it above my head. My brother was in tears and I just sort of let go.”

The challenge was an emotional one for Mark, whose dad and grandmother-in-law were both cared for by Sobell House before they sadly passed away.

During the last eight months, Mark has been supported by fellow Oxford Bus Company driver Terry Brackett, Michael Stopp from Thames Travel, and his brother Justin Temple.

Mark said: “Throughout this whole thing, Terry has been a superstar. He gave me my training plan and listened to all my moaning, telling me when I was doing too much or too little training.

“My brother worked tirelessly on the map and refined it a couple of days before we started, making little tweaks that made a big difference.

“My support team was always within a mile of me, giving me instructions, shoving food in my face and getting me drinks.”

Sobell House provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to adults living in Oxfordshire with a life-limiting illness, as well as support for their family and friends. The hospice is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Mark said: “There are some really good people at Sobell, and they’ve thanked me for what I’ve done. Sobell was my only motivation throughout, and we tweaked the cycle route so we could stop there and at the Oxford Bus Company depot. There were a few people outside at both to cheer us on, which was nice of them.”

Beth Marsh, Director of Fundraising at Sobell House, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Mark for taking on such an extraordinary challenge in support of Sobell House.

“It is thanks to Mark, and fundraisers like him, that we are able to support so many people across the Oxfordshire community, along with their loved ones. 

“Everyone at Sobell House has been inspired by his determination, and we would like to thank him, along with his support team, for their outstanding efforts and generosity.”

In May, Sobell House won the Brand the Bus competition run by Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, securing a prize pool worth £100,000.

A full-wrap advertisement will be placed across a double-decker bus, while the prize package also includes free advertising on board Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel vehicles, radio advertising on Get Radio, and being named Oxford City Football Club’s charity of choice for the 2026/27 season.

Donations to Mark’s cycling challenge can be made here: www.justgiving.com/page/mark-temple-4