DCHS’ Dr Honey Smith in 170 mile cycle ride challenge for climate action
Wheatbridge-based Dr Honey Smith is one of three health professionals who are cycling around 170 miles from Sheffield to London in aid of climate action on Monday 17 April.
They will be joined by other health professionals taking part in "The Big One" (21 -24 April), at the Planetary Health Hub to highlight the health risks of inaction on climate.
Dr Smith said: “The scientific evidence regarding the climate crisis is overwhelming, and the latest IPCC report (published in March 23) gave the starkest warning yet that time is running out to take action. The World Health Organisation, in 2021, stated that "climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity", because it affects all our most basic life support systems - clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter.”
Health professionals are coming together at the Planetary Health Hub, as part of a non-disruptive event organised by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Extinction Rebellion and many other groups, at Westminster. The Planetary Health Hub has been formed by a coalition of many different health groups, including the Sheffield-founded Greener Practice network - the UK's primary care sustainability group, representing thousands of primary care professionals – of which Dr Smith is co-chair.
She will be joined on her cycle ride by Viv Maddison, a nurse from Sheffield and Margaret Jackson, a GP from North Yorkshire. Their route will take them through Chesterfield and Wheatbridge Health Village, where she works as a specialist GP in sexual health.
Honey Smith said: “We’re cycling to raise awareness about climate change as a health issue, and in the hope of inspiring others to take action for the planet. I plan to measure air pollution along the way, and videoblog to highlight various issues about the climate and nature emergency as we cycle through the ex-mining areas of South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, appreciate nature along the Grand Union canal, and approach London via Leicester, Northampton and St Albans, ready to meet up with many other Greener Practice members (including Greener Practice's founder, Dr Aarti Bansal, a Sheffield GP) and to speak at the event at Westminster.”
The cycle ride will be a challenge for Dr Smith and her friends. But they are excited by the prospect of talking to people along the way and of enjoying the beauty of the English countryside. There will be a fair bit of supporting local cafes along the way. And they are looking forward to coming together with a huge group of health professionals who share their passion for improving human health through action that will also help the planet.