Employees of British-based global dairy nutrition business Volac are setting out on a three-day charity bike ride next month to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.
Starting from Volac’s manufacturing facility at Felinfach in West Wales on Thursday, September 22, a 40-strong group of enthusiastic cyclists will forge a challenging 250-mile route east towards the company’s head office in Orwell near Cambridge.
This 10th anniversary Milk Ride is to be held in memory of former employee Alistair Sampson from Northern Ireland, who recently lost his battle with cancer. The participants are aiming to raise £15,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Starting in the Welsh hills and involving over 16,000 feet of climbing, global technical manager Ian Watson, who is on the organising team, said the challenge is not for the faint hearted.
“Everyone has been training hard over the summer and will be cycling more than 85 miles a day,” he said. “Entrants have also had to complete a 70-mile qualifying ride in under six hours to participate.
“On day one, the cyclists will cover 86 miles – making our way from Felinfach, through beautiful, hilly scenery towards Llanwrtyd Wells, then onto Hay-on-Wye before resting weary legs at an overnight stop in Hereford.”
Mr Watson continued: “Day two we will tackle another 84-mile leg, heading for the Cotswolds and a group ride up Fish Hill. The route passes north of Cheltenham, through Stow-on-the-Wold and finishes north of Oxford for another overnight break.
“On the final day, with most of the hilly terrain behind us, we face another 7.30am start but with the end firmly in sight. Our day three route takes us south of Milton Keynes, just north of Luton and onto Orwell.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring the group can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/team/TheGreatVolacMilkRide2022
