On June 30 a group of cyclists set off on a 910-mile cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise funds for The Children’s Centre. It’s a demanding challenge that will take nine days to complete, but all of the team have been training hard and received advice and support from the charity and cycling experts including Andrew Roche and Jacqui Fletcher.
Mark Eastham, Fundraising Co-ordinator for The Children’s Centre who will be joining the team on the LEJOG challenge, said:
“It will be a tough few days but very rewarding for all those who take part. We wish everyone the best of luck on the journey and thank them and their sponsors for their hard work and support. We are also extremely grateful to the Steam Packet Company, Energy Communications, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Isle of Man Bank, Friends Provident International, PokerStars, Shoprite, Vantage Corporate, Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation, and to Panacea for the sponsorship of the kit.”
The team, who set off the day before the start of this year’s Tour de France, will face their own battle to complete nine stages between the following towns and cities:
Day 1: Lands End - Okehampton; Day 2: Okehampton - Bristol; Day 3: Bristol - Shrewsbury; Day 4: Shrewsbury - Lancaster; Day 5: Lancaster - Moffat; Day 6: Moffat - Loch Lomond; Day 7: Loch Lomond - Loch Leven; Day 8: Loch Leven - Tain; Day 9: Tain - John O'Groats.
The 23 riders are Jude Bullough, Tony Cawte, David Churcher, Gill Churcher, Andrew Cowley, Benjamin Duke, Andy Dunn, Peter Harrison, Tristen Head, Barry Hennedy, Gary Johnson, Richard Lardner-Burke, Duncan Mackay, Findlay Macleod, Jason Mallone, Robert Quane, Tanya Sanderson, Paul Swindale, and John Venables - plus Mark Eastham who will be one of the tour guides. To follow their progress take a look at the blog at this link http://tcclejog2012.blogspot.com/.
There is also a LEJOG relay event for teams of four to ride the same route. Two teams have signed up with one led by The Children’s Centre’s Chief Executive, John Knight, and the other by Matthew McSevney. John was part of the seven-man team who cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats for the charity last Summer, and Matthew completed the John O’Groats to Lands End challenge earlier in 2011 riding solo and unsupported.
