Ross MacDonald, bassist for The 1975, and Brian MacDonald, bassist for the American pop-rock band PVRIS, are set to embark on the ultimate UK cycling challenge this April. The pair will ride from Land’s End to John O’ Groats to raise vital funds for the UK’s largest music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins. Joined by friends Darren and Matt, the group will tackle the iconic 1,100-mile "LEJOG" route, traveling from the southwesterly tip of England to the northernmost point of Scotland over two weeks.
The team aims to cover distances of up to 100 miles per day to fund the training of new music therapists. Currently, it costs Nordoff and Robbins £19,000 to train a single therapist over a two-year period. Ross MacDonald was inspired to support the cause after the 2024 O2 Silver Clef Awards, where he heard a moving speech from the mother of a young client named Ruby, who credited the charity with saving her daughter's future.
Ross recently visited the charity’s London Centre to participate in a session with Ruby, stating: "I believe that music therapy really changes people's lives. It breaks down barriers and it transcends language." He described the upcoming 14-day trek as "the most opposite thing" to his life in the studio, adding that while the ride will be "beautiful and horrendous," the ultimate goal is to raise significant money for the cause.
Brian MacDonald joined the mission following a spontaneous message from Ross. "I'm going to be doing it for the people that will benefit so much from what we can get in terms of donations," Brian said. "That's going to fuel me more than all the electrolytes, gels and carbs combined."
Sandy Trappitt, Director of Fundraising at Nordoff and Robbins, noted that demand for their services has never been higher. In 2025 alone, the charity supported over 12,000 people through 48,000 sessions. Donations are being accepted
here.
