Ever fancied cycling 100 miles in eight hours, including the thigh-burning Box Hill in Surrey, along the 2012 Olympic road-race course?
Well, for some reason best known to themselves, six brave souls will be doing just this on July 31 in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, to raise money for our excellent Fishing 4 Schools, Casting for Recovery and Falconry for Schools charities.
The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 starts in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, then follows a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and out into Surrey's stunning countryside, finishing on The Mall in central London.
Each of the RideLondon team has signed up to raise £2,000 for TCAF – so please help them to reach their targets by sponsoring them if you can!
Here's the team:
- Andrew Shutler is a 32-year-old gamekeeper from Berkshire, who enjoys mountain bike racing, horse riding, hunting and fishing. He is particularly keen to raise money for the Fishing 4 Schools project as in a previous career as a college lecturer on a country management course he helped many a student to land their first fish. "The connection angling gives people to the countryside is perhaps second to none," he said. Sponsor Andrew here
- Sporty student Toby Sallitt, from Newbury, is in the sixth form at Radley College and enjoys playing football and golf and says he "loves a good challenge"! He is taking part to support his good friend Monty Browne. Sponsor Toby here
- Monty Browne, who is also a student at Radley, is a novice to long-distance cycling but is "looking forward to taking on such a brilliant challenge for a great cause." His mother is part of our fundraising and events team, but we are assured no arm-twisting took place! Monty said: "These charities show the thing I love, which is outdoor sports, changing a person's life for the better. I love the idea of introducing people to a sport which can help deliver qualifications and freedom in the world of nature." Sponsor Monty here
- Despite years of cycle commuting Countryside Alliance media consultant Charlotte Cooper is a self-confessed "wobbly cyclist who doesn't really do hills". She is taking part in RideLondon because she believes every child should have access to the countryside and after helping on a Casting for Recovery retreat she was impressed with the benefits the weekends provide to ladies affected by breast cancer. You can sponsor Charlotte here
- Pilates instructor and nutritionist Angela Lee (right) knows the benefits of being outdoors, she says: "My work as a fitness instructor and health promotion advisor for the NHS has shown me how not just exercise but generally being outdoors can help both physical and mental well-being." That's why she supports the three charities. Angela is married to an MFH and likes to follow the hunt on her bike but has never done anything like this before! You can sponsor Angela here
- Ronald Cheape is a yoga instructor and lives in Hammersmith, London, however he calls Scotland home and takes every opportunity he can to travel up there to fish or shoot. He also enjoys riding with the Worcestershire hunt. He says: "I believe that connecting children with the natural environment, and the peace and reality this brings, is the most important part of education, and fishing is one of the best ways to do this." Ronald is the only one of the team who has experience of a ride of this type, having raced the Mull Cyclosportive. Sponsor him here