Riders from across Europe came together recently to form the 42-strong Team WNT that took part in the British Heart Foundation’s London to Paris off-road cycle ride. Their combined efforts so far have raised more than £12,000 for the charity — and there is more to come.
When the call went out for volunteers to join Team WNT on the cycle ride, there was no shortage of volunteers — both from the UK and from WNT subsidiaries and head offices across Europe. Along with the other teams that entered the 300km off-road challenge, a total of £125,000 was raised for the charity.
While cycling is a popular pastime among WNT staff, some serious training had to be put in ahead of this challenge, which saw the WNT riders — along with 156 fellow cyclists — leave from Kempton Park race-course in Surrey and head off across the South Downs, before crossing the channel for an overnight stop in Calais. Day two was an 80km leg that saw some mixed terrain and a climb to Lyons la Forret.
After another night’s rest, the final stint was the 120km to the Palace of Versailles, which saw the participants encounter some tough trails.
Tony Pennington, managing director of WNT (UK), said: “This was a superb event to be a part of. Before we set off, we said we would start as a team and finish as a team, and that is exactly what we did. The effort that everyone put in was superb and the end result, raising so much money for a charity that can have a positive effect on everyone, made it all worthwhile.”