Cyclists from UCAS are celebrating after a 250-mile ride from Land’s End back to their Cheltenham offices raised £3,000 for LINC.
The challenge began on Sunday morning (19 May) and ended the following afternoon, after the riders spent eight to ten hours in the saddle each day. They faced some formidable hill ranges such as Bodmin moor along the way.
As the majority of the fundraisers were relatively inexperienced at riding long distances, they put in four months of dedicated preparation before the attempt.
The team of nine riders are Dave Edwards, from Cheltenham, Paul Dring, from Worcester, Hannah D’Ambrosio from Cheltenham, Mark Woodfield, from Wantage, Nick Slim, from Tewkesbury, Ian Leitch, from Rugby, Chris Hill, from Evesham, Will Saunders, also from Evesham, and Jeremy Goodwin, from Littledean, in the Forest of Dean.
Simon Jeffery, from Rugby and Tom Carr, Cheltenham (not pictured) are support drivers. Team kit and mechanical support have been provided by Cat 1 Cycling.
The two-day journey back to work at the universities and colleges admissions service in New Barn Lane has already raised around £3,000 for LINC (Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund).
The charity works to improve the care of cancer patients and their families.
LINC is also supported by the riders’ colleague Catherine Beck, who recently returned to work at UCAS after being diagnosed with leukaemia just over a year ago, following a routine GPs visit.
Graphic designer Chris Hill, 31, from Evesham, said: “I’m really sore, and my knees have gone, but I’m really proud of what everyone in the team has achieved. The last half was especially tough but we just kept thinking of the special cause we were riding for.
“LINC is very close to our hearts here at UCAS and we’re grateful that so many people have supported us with generous donations.”
About UCAS
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. The charity manages applications from over 650,000 applicants each year for full-time undergraduate courses at over 300 institutions across the UK.
Please call the UCAS Press office on 01242 545469 for more information or email [email protected].