SOLDIERS CHARITY RAISES IMPRESSIVE £10,000
Putting their muscles through their paces, once again Mechline staff jumped on their bikes, or donned marshal togs, all in support of the ABF – Soldiers Charity.
The company, in the year of the charity’s 70th birthday, raised an astounding £10,000 which will go towards helping ABF give lifetime support to serving and retired soldiers and their families when they are in need.
The event completed in a single day (7 September), started and finished in Bedfordshire and took in three gruelling cycle marathons comprising 64 miles, 35 miles and 26 miles on a fully marshalled route through the beautiful, yet challenging Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire countryside.
Milton Keynes based sponsor Mechline – the foodservice solutions company – fielded marshals and a solid team of riders including director Peter Galliford. Along the route spectators did their utmost to encourage the cyclists, and even the riders themselves managed to entertain – with a Morris dancing team of riders stopping at the 26 mile point to do an impromptu routine for everyone. The atmosphere all round was extremely uplifting and fun.
The event organised by Jacqui Sage-Passant, wife of Mechline managing director Peter Sage-Passant is in its second year, and the event attracted 443 cyclists, more than double last year’s showing taking donations to well over £10,000.
“This amazing charity set up in 1944 is there to look after soldiers, veterans and families with an ethos of always being there for those who served and still continue to serve. I see the excellent work the charity does and I can tell you the money raised during this ride will make a difference to people’s lives,” says Jacqui Sage-Passant.
For more information or to make a donation visit www.abfcycleride.co.uk
