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Cyclists complete SW bike ride and continue to raise funds for charity

Marketing / 31 Jul, 19

25 Sanderson Weatherall property experts from across the network offices have completed the 2019 SW charity bike ride – a route which connected three of SW’s northern offices.

Setting off from either SW’s Leeds or Manchester offices, the two groups of cyclists headed towards the Yorkshire Dales and their first nights stop-off at the Grassington Bunk Barn. It was relatively slow going for both teams, with the Manchester contingent battling the elements, cycling through a torrential downpour and with the Leeds group facing a number of mechanical issues before they’d even completed the first 20 miles! However, all arrived safe and well and were greatly appreciative of the BBQ supper prepared by Nick ‘the grill King’ Heap (with some assistance from young Mr Humphreys).

Day two and the sun well and truly shone on the team, boosting morale as they set-off deeper into the Yorkshire Dales. The smiles didn’t last long as the cyclists were subject to one of the toughest days cycling of any previous SW rides, incorporating the infamous climbs of Fleet Moss, Buttertubs Pass, Tan Hill and The Stang – four notoriously difficult uphill sections totalling over 6,500 ft. To say it was a relieve for the team to arrive at the Morritt Arms would be an understatement!

The final day was comparably flat as the cyclists rode from the Morritt in Greta Bridge down to their final stop of Newcastle Quayside. Unfortunately the weather gods had other ideas and turned the last half of the day in to a battle against the wind and rain – hence 25 very wet cyclists pictured!

Stuart Avery, organiser of this year’s trip commented, “All in all, and despite the hills, the rain, the burnt sausages, the snoring…and the punctures… it was another fantastic trip and certainly by far the best organised ride in SW living memory. On behalf of the team, I would like to say thank you to everyone that has donated – it’s an incredibly worthy cause and it really does make all the hard work worthwhile.”

This year the team were fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support, and in particular the Leslie Bessant Tribute Fund, after sadly losing colleague Les Bessant last year. An especially fitting tribute, as Les used to work in the Newcastle office – the ultimate destination for the trip. The team’s efforts have already raised over £4,000 and there is still time to donate on their page here: https://macmillan.tributefunds.com/sw-bike-ride-2019.

“All in all, and despite the hills, the rain, the burnt sausages, the snoring…and the punctures… it was another fantastic trip and certainly by far the best organised ride in SW living memory. On behalf of the team, I would like to say thank you to everyone that has donated - it’s an incredibly worthy cause and it really does make all the hard work worthwhile.”

Stuart Avery - Organiser of this year's trip
Topics: News

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