May 14, 2013 1.42 pm This story is over 130 months old

Lincoln businesses bike team raise £25k for charity

Success!: The Lincoln team that set out to raise £25k for charity achieved their target to cycle to the Eiffel Tower over the weekend.
From left to right: Simon Sewell, Hayley Townsend, Simon Gregory, Andrew Buckley, Tim Clark, Tim Wright, Julian Anyan, Andrew Spetch and Rob Key.

A group of nine staff from different Lincoln-based businesses have raised more than £25,000 for charity cycling from London to Paris.

The group of nine, from Lindum Construction, C&S Partnership, Health Farm Day Nursery, Lockwood Farms, two local farmers, Lighthouse Property Services and British Sugar started the 300 mile ride on May 8, finishing at the Eiffel Tower on May 11.

They were nine out of 133 other riders from across the country taking part in the massive challenge.

One rider, Lindum Construction MD Simon Gregory, managed to raise £8,000 for LIVES First Responders and the Lincolnshire MS Therapy Centre.

Tim Clark (left) and Simon Gregory at the Eiffel Tower finish point.

Tim Clark (left) and Simon Gregory at the Eiffel Tower finish point.

He said: “The whole experience was unforgettable but the final four miles, where all the 133 cyclists who took part were escorted in convoy to the Arc de Triomphe, with its traffic mayhem roundabout, before arriving at the Eiffel Tower at 3.30pm, was possible the most memorable.

“It was great to hear the shouts and cheers from pedestrians and some hoots from the motorists, hard to tell whether it was encouragement or impatience.

“Anyway, we all finally made it to the finish line, with aching legs and sore other bits, but this didn’t detract from the huge sense of achievement.

“What started out as a daft idea last November which then lead to many hours of training, this then turning to apprehension as the departure time got closer, has resulted in us raising over £25k for charity thanks to our many generous sponsors.”