A gruelling four day cycle ride, finishing in Cardiff, has raised more than £8,000 for the Felix Fund, the charity which helps bomb disposal and search personnel and their families.
Cyclists took on the 570-mile (900km) ride from Edinburgh to Cardiff last month, taking in three of the UK’s most significant castles.
Tour de Troops: The Castles 2019, raised £8,264. For the second year running, defence and cyber security company, L3 TRL Technology, was the lead sponsor, and entered a team of five cyclists in the event.
“The Felix Fund helps bomb disposal and search personnel and their families. It is such an important charity. And one which is extremely close to my heart, having seen first-hand the amazing work that it does,” said Captain James Wadsworth, founder of Tour de Troops: The Castles.
Capt. Wadsworth joined the army in 1995, worked in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Anchor Vans, the UK’s largest commercial vehicle hypermarket, also supported the ride. Managing director of the company, Simon Joyce, joined the cyclists and also provided support vehicles for the challenge.
Melanie Moughton, CEO of Felix Fund, said, “I’m elated that so much money has been raised. Almost every day, bomb disposal and search personnel deal with highly pressured situations. This continued exposure to intense stress can have lasting effects, both physical and mental.”
A special reception party greeted riders as they crossed the finishing line in Cardiff, and they enjoyed performances from a male voice choir, plus a three-course dinner.
There is still time to donate to the challenge: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tourdetroops