Police officers set off on 500 mile Wales cycling challenge
A team of 15 gallant police officers from Staffordshire Police, set off from Keele at 8:00am on Wednesday 6th September, 2017, on a 500 mile cycle ride around Wales, which will raise thousands of pounds for disabled children in Staffordshire.
The ‘Bobbies on Bikes 4 Kids’ team, led by Sergeant Steve Marsh, have swapped their uniforms for Lycra to support Caudwell Children, the Staffordshire based charity that provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families.
The ‘Battle the Dragon’ challenge will see the Bobbies passing through Snowdon National Park and the Brecon Beacons, in a five day ride that will see them climbing 39,000ft of ascent along the way.
As Sergeant Marsh explained the group is highly motivated to complete the challenge: “We’ve trained for months in preparation for the event with the intention of raising the £20,000 needed to send two children, with life limiting conditions, from Staffordshire, on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney World, in Florida.”
Caudwell Children created its annual Destination Dreams holiday to Disney World in 2007. The holiday gives 25 children and their families, from across the UK, the opportunity to experience a dream holiday.
This is the fourth cycling challenge that the ‘Bobbies on Bikes 4 Kids’ team has undertaken for the charity, and to date they have raised over £85,000.
“We’ve done John O’Groats to Lands’ End, Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower, Cologne to Stoke and now this,” said Sergeant Marsh. “Day one will see us ride from Keele to Anglesey, day two we head for Aberystwyth, day three we go east to Newport, day four we travel north to Montgomery, just over a mile from the English border, before heading home to Stoke on day five.”
The team has left nothing to chance and their support team includes Mike Armstrong, from MStrong Sport Rehabilitation, and as Sergeant Marsh explained his contribution will be vital in getting the team over the finish line. He said: “Whilst there’s no chance that any of the team will suffer from altitude sickness during our many hill climbs, there’s sure to be plenty of muscle strains and assorted injuries throughout the ride.
“Mike’s miraculous hands, and expert physiotherapy, will ensure that each member of the team has the best chance of getting back in the saddle each day.”
The team will complete their challenge, accompanied by a Police escort, between 5:30pm-6:30pm on Sunday 10th September, 2017, at the Best Western Moat House Hotel, Festival Way, ST1 5BQ.
