Bike team plans 3,000-mile record trip to boost charity

Property professionals from Strategic Team Group in Castleford have only days to go before they set off on a 3,000-mile charity cycle challenge, Race Across America, to raise funds for the Help for Heroes charity .

The team, Strategic Lions, which includes Strategic Team Group’s managing director Andy Watson from Ackworth, and contracts manager Stewart Loben from Bingley, plus four elite riders and their support crew, are jetting off today to California.

The challenge, which starts on Saturday, will see the elite riders mentor the novices from Strategic Team Group as they pedal from California to Maryland in an attempt to break the current relay team record of five days, nine hours.

The race will see the team cycle 3,000 miles, touching 14 states and climbing over 100,000ft.

The race is 30 per cent longer than the Tour de France, with no rest days.

The team are well on the way to raising the target of £30,000 for Help For Heroes, the charity formed to help wounded service members, which is currently raising funds to build five Personnel Recovery Centres across the UK.

The team also includes elite cyclists – double Olympian John Tanner, GB title-holder Ashley Brown and Best British All Rounder title holder Kev Dawson – and Strategic Team Group’s Paul Danisz, who has been instrumental in organising the event, plus the 13 support team members.

Managing director Mr Watson, said: “Twelve months ago when we planned this race, I don’t think we could quite comprehend how it would take over our lives.

“The training alone has been gruelling and pushed us all, and probably our families too, to our absolute limits, both physically and mentally.

“However, the biggest motivator that has seen us in the gym daily at 5am and cycling over 250 miles per week, has been the thought that our efforts will encourage people to donate cash, which will ultimately help young men and women who have been wounded whilst serving their country.”

Donations to the appeal can be made at www.bmycharity.com/strategiclions