Mark Powell, 42, and Matthew Toye, 43, will be cycling nearly 1000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats as part of Deloitte’s ‘Ride Across Britain’ in just nine days to raise money for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans and Meningitis Now.
Starting this weekend on Saturday 5th September, the duo who are both from Guildford will set off on the gruelling challenge, with an average climb of 5,200 feet per day. To keep to the nine day target, they will have to cycle over 100 miles every day.
Mark, an investment manager, and Matthew, an operations director, have chosen Blesma as one of the beneficiaries after being inspired by a triple amputee veteran who paddled the Devizes to Westminster canoe challenge with just one arm. Mark also served as an officer with the Royal Tank Regiment in the 1990s, serving in.
The duo have just completed nearly 200 miles of cycling over the weekend as part of the Malvern Mad-Hatter event in Worcestershire and so far have raised over £2,000.
Mark says: “We have been training for the past year, going out in all weathers as we try and increase both our speed and endurance. We think we have just done enough training, if you consider family and work pressures, but we won’t know until we cross the start line at Land’s End! Let’s hope the Gods are watching and give us good weather, few punctures and mechanical problems and tough skin (all very unlikely). Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat for 9 whole days!”