The team from The Eco-friendly Card Co took a morning off a few days ago to support the launch of People Pedal Power, an initiative set up by teenage climate activist, Jessie Stevens, whose mum Maggs, works in The Eco-friendy Card Co’s Devon office.
The plucky 16 year old Jessie Stevens is cycling the 570 miles from her Newton Abbott home to Glasgow to attend COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (which runs October 31- 12 November) in the hope of bringing “bring youth representation to a conversation often dominated by older voices”.
People Pedal Power aims to inspire people (particularly young people) to join her on her journey and deliver a message to the climate conference on the need for urgent action on green transport infrastructure, and much else.
Among those who joined Jessie in the first morning of her journey was The Eco-friendly Card Co’s top cycling enthusiast and office manager, Caroline Twigger.
Jessie has already reached Lancaster and her mum Maggs has joined her to cycle alongside the remainder of the way to Glasgow.
The story has attracted considerable media coverage with both ITV and Channel 5 having covered Jessie’s mission.
Speaking on ITV news, Maggs Stevens said how “very, very proud” she was of Jessie while Caroline added how much of an inspiration she was. “I think she’s absolutely amazing, she’s so driven and passionate.”
Maggs works in The Eco-friendly Card Co samples stock room dealing with brochure requests, sending out sample packs etc.
Jessie is being supported on her trip by Adventure Syndicate, a collective of women endurance cyclists, who are accompanying her on a cargo bike, carrying everything she needs. Adventure Syndicate will also co-produce a film documenting the journey and the stories of those involved and the people Jessie meets along the way.
Jessie is covering between 50-70 miles a day, and has invited people to join her for a few miles to highlight people power – both in terms of active sustainable travel and political voice.
You can find out more and follow Jessie’s progress here.
Read what The Guardian has written about her by clicking here and watch her in action on ITV news by clicking here.
Top: Jessie Stevens talking on ITV news about her mission.
