[A] combined 2,000 pedal-powered miles were clocked up last week to raise funds for charitable projects across Cumbria.
The Cumbrian Proclaimers is made up of Richard Lancaster, head of the Penrith branch of Handelsbanken, Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Community Foundation, Simon Peet, who up until recently owned Jim Peet (Agriculture) Limited, and Steve Aynsley, Director of Shot2Go.
The cycling quartet took on the gruelling North Coast 500 – one of the UK’s toughest cycling challenges and finished a day earlier than planned, cycling 100 miles every day for five days, to raise money for Cumbria Community Foundation.
The circular route, which begins in Inverness, was recently dubbed Scotland’s answer to Route 66 – one of America’s most famous highways. It was named among the top six coastal road trips in the world, and boasts stunning views of fairytale castles, mountain ranges and beaches.
The cyclists took on blind summits, hairpin bends and vertiginous edges throughout the route, climbing a total of 11,398m and spent most of the first three days battling the grim, heavy rain.
Andy Beeforth said: “I’d like to thank everyone for their sponsorship and encouragement. Our spirits were high but riding 100 miles a day over five consecutive days was an interesting lesson in the art of the possible!”
Richard Lancaster said: “It was a fantastic ride with the nicest, funniest, and toughest team I could have chosen to ride with. I would urge anyone to go and drive, ride or walk around the North Coast 500. It is truly stunning with some wonderfully hospitable people to look after you en-route.
“Many thanks to our sponsors Wheelbase Cycles and GSK Motorhomes. We were very lucky with our equipment so didn’t need our spares and spare bike but having equipment there was peace of mind. Thank you also to our individual sponsors for your generous donations to date.”
The four riders have so far raised more than £11,000 of their ambitious £20,000 fundraising target. Money raised from the ride will be used to make grants through the Cumbria Fund, which awards £150,000 each year to charitable projects that provide much needed services at a grassroots level.
To sponsor the cyclists, visit: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/cumbrianproclaimers.
