Wessex Cancer Trust - Isle of Wight

NEWS - SQUARE TO SQUARE CHARITY CYCLE CHALLENGE 2008

A team of firefighters from the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service are going to be cycling from St Thomas' Square, Newport, Isle of Wight to the Vatican Square, Italy in September 2008.

The challenge will mean each cyclist riding the approximate 1,400 mile journey, with the aim of raising £25,000 for the Wessex Cancer Trust for the care and support of Isle of Wight cancer patients and their families.

The challenge is being launched at the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival 2007, at Seaclose, Newport, Isle of Wight on Saturday 15th September 2007.

The team and support crew, along with volunteers from the Wessex Cancer Trust, Isle of Wight, will be at the festival launch to meet anyone interested in the challenge, as well as start fundraising.

A word from Kelvin Wright, a member of Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Team 2008

“It is going to take some serious training and there is there is no doubt the hardest bit will be going over the Alps.” The team – a mixture of full-time and retained duty system firefighters supported by four colleagues – will look to stay at camp sites along the way.

”We will also be making contact with both the French and Italian Fire Services about the possibility of staying on fire Stations on the route”said Kelvin.

“When firefighters turn up at a station anywhere in the world they do all they can to help so hopefully we’ll be OK.” Before setting out Kelvin and Andrew plan to drive the chosen route to check that it is indeed the best option.

“We didn’t do that last time and what we thought would be the easiest route turned out to be pretty difficult.When we were overtaken by a skilift overhead we knew we weren’t on the flattest route so we hope to avoid that mistake this trip,” Kelvin said. Fundraising events will be held regularly prior to the big day and already local businesses are rallying to the cause."

Wight Mountain, of St James Street, Newport, have kindly agreed to support the challenge, by providing a substantial single £600 prize (a bike and accessories), along with sourcing bikes for the team and spares. Will, a co-owner of Wight Mountain, is even joining the team for the challenge.

The team at BECO, are also involved in marketing and publicity with the challenge, providing design and print for publicity material and a website for the challenge.

You can sponsor the team online and follow their progress in training and during the challenge at the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge website: www.squaretosquare.org.uk

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