Cyclists in training for charity challenge

dave.tanner@archant.co.uk
24 February 2010

Eight of the cylists who will take part on the John o' Groats to Land's End challenge.

LOCAL cyclists will travel 1,050 miles across Britain all in the name of charity.

The group of 10 will set off on August 16 from John O'Groats in an attempt to reach Land's End in just 10 days, averaging 105 miles per day.

The challenge, End to End in 10, has been organised to raise £30,000, split between three charities; Children's Hospice South West, North Devon Hospice and Families for Children.

"There will be pain," said Ashley primary school headmaster, Mark Henderson.

"There isn't much time for training but we will definitely do it."

The team of cyclists has taken part in charity rides before, such as Coast2Coast and now they have decided to take on their biggest challenge yet.

"Although this ride is a mental and physical challenge for me and the team, it is nothing compared to the problems faced by the adults and children for whom we are completing this journey," said co-organiser Andy Unstead.

The event is very important to young rider Adam Jewels, (21) who, along with his sister Sarah, was adopted at the age of six with the help of Families for Children.

He wants to help raise money for the charity so that other children can have similar opportunities to find a loving family.

The route has been tweaked in order to make it safer for the riders, the majority of the ride will be on main roads and a two man support vehicle carrying extra bikes and other essentials will travel alongside the team.

The participants are hoping for sponsorship from bed and breakfasts and Travelodges along the route to make the trip a little less uncomfortable.

Hundreds of extra riders are expected to take part during the final 100 miles and a special "Welcome Home" party is being held at the Barnstaple Hotel to cater for 250 people on August 27 with special guests lined up.

Eight of the cyclists met up at Barnstaple Square on Thursday to kick off the campaign and representatives of the charities were there to help gather support.

"What these guys are doing is just amazing," said Emma Lowe, a community fund-raiser at the North Devon Hospice. "John O'Groats to Lands End is a notoriously difficult ride; we wish them all the best with it."

n To help support the team visit their website at www.end2endin10.com