07/09/09

 On August 29 a group of 14 friends from Newport set out to take on the Raid Pyrenean, (A 450mile ride across the French Pyrenees).The event is set to raise close to £10,000 for local and national charities and has been completed by less than 250 riders during 2009.

Starting point in Hendaye on the Atlantic.

The group of 12 riders and 2 support crew, with ages ranging from 32 to 78, set out from Newport Shropshire on August 29 on a 2 day drive down to Hendaye,on Frances south west  border. The challenge was then to cycle the 450 miles and 11000m of climbing along the Pyrenees to the town of Cerbere on Frances southeast border, starting at the atlantic ocean and finishing at the mediteranean.

Heading out with the mountains in the distance

The event has caught the interest of the local community and further afield and many local business's, including Wrekin Circuits Ltd (pcb Solutions), Henshalls Insurance ,  Ultimate Taxi's Newport, BurntTree VehicleHire, Telford, Astwood Joinery, Newport Carpet and Beds and TorqFitness have supported and assisted the fundraising project.

The Support Crew of Chris Leese and Nick Allcock, with vehicles supplied by BurntTree, provide refreshment for the riders enroute

In organising and completing the challenge, Simon Broad of Newport Carpet and Beds and the rest of the team are hoping to raise more than £10000  for local and national charities including WE ARE MACMILLAN cancer support, Newport First Responders and the Layla Pitt Remembrance Fund.

Climbing the infamous Col du Tourmalet at over 2000m high

During the 5 day ride, the group experienced 40 degree heat, rain, mist, climbed 19 peaks and had to ride for an average of 10 hours per day to  finish in under the allotted 100 hour time limit.

Ken Broad on the final descent down towards the Med

On September 4th at 2.30pm  the entire team of Ken Broad, Simon Broad, Gary Parkman, Barry Bowen, Paul Grubert, Mark Bagshaw, Steve Bowers, Chris Jones, Tim Roberts, Sam Westwood, Ian Barton, Chris Leese, Nick Allcock and Phil Evans arrived at the destination of Cerebere with 41 minutes to spare, weary but very jubilant in the knowledge that had joined only a small handfull of people to complete the Raid Pyrenean during 2009.

C'est finis. Cerbere 2009

A BIG thankyou to all the businesses and individuals that have supported the event through its entireity, whos kindness and generosity spurred the team on during tough times (of which there were many!)

A MASSIVE thankyou to the support crew of Chris Leese and Nick Allcock. Without their unending support and hardwork from dawn till dusk the event would not have been the success that it turned out to be. CHEERS.

Donations to WE ARE MACMILLAN can be made via a justgivingpage, NEWPORTRAID or donations in person can be made at Newport Carpet and Beds on the High Street in Newport Shropshire.

More photos from the ride can be seen here