Staff from Interserve’s West Midlands office were amongst sixty eight intrepid employees who saddled up to cycle from London to Paris, raising funds for a variety of charities.
Months of training led to the crack team of 7, Simon Butler, John Strike, Leanne Curl, Stuart Boynton, Adam Bednall, George Lamplough and Steve Harland, departing from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London at 8.00am on the Thursday morning the 22nd of May. 75 miles saw them battle out the London traffic through undulated countryside past Rochester and Canterbury to finally arrive at Dover for the channel crossing.
After over-nighting in Calais, they tackled 105 miles to Amiens via Boulogne and Rouen following the coast over 5 sizeable climbs. By this point they had grouped themselves into smaller like-minded pelotons, each taking a turn on the front with progress was at times decidedly rapid.
The final day proved the ‘killer’, with stiff winds, rain showers, tired legs and sore derrières. 90 miles to Paris culminated with the obligatory victory lap around the Arc de Triomphe, finally arriving at the Trocadero, with the Eiffel Tower providing a spectacular backdrop to their achievement.
A quick charge down the Champs Elysees saw them arrive at their destination to complete their ultimate goal, a well-earned meal and a couple of shandies at a Parisian hotel.
Thanks to contributions from individual donations and corporate sponsors, including Innovaré offsite, the whole group of Interserve riders numbering 68 in total raised an outstanding £160,000 from this challenging event, with £15,169 donated to the John Taylor Hospice in Erdington, Birmingham.
