Clearview National July 2019 - Issue 212 | Page 17

INDUSTRYNEWS
HOW IT ALL STARTED
GM Fundraising commenced its charity cycle
rides in 2005 with Top2Bottom, which saw a
team of 10, including current riders Graeme
Bailey, Gary Torr and Gary Morton, cycle 974
miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End over 13
days and raised over £51,000. ‘From Russia With
Hope’ far exceeds this challenge and it’s amazing
to think how far they have come.
Gary comments: “Since this inaugural event,
further international fundraising rides have taken
place culminating in 2016’s Border2Border – the
‘Toughest Yet’, which saw 18 riders’ cycle 2,111
miles from Canada to Mexico, tackling offering
up 97,295 feet of climbing and temperatures in
excess of 45 degrees and raising £195,766.92
for Hope House Children’s Hospices. We are
delighted that 19 members of the Border2Border
team returned for this challenge, particularly
as many of them were GMF challenge virgins
last time. Ask anyone that has ever taken part,
be it cycling or support, and they will tell you
that although the challenge is unreal, the shared
experience and camaraderie is unrivalled and
perhaps even a little addictive. It certainly
cements friendships for life.
THE LAST ONE
“‘From Russia With Hope’ is the seventh
and final major cycling challenge for good
reason; aside from the immense amount of
work in planning and executing these rides,
each time we must exceed the last, both in
challenge and funds raised. That is no easy
task. From the initial concept, planning the
route and the logistics takes months, and
that’s before you have even completed the
risk assessments. Safety is our top priority
and every detail has to be planned to the nth
degree.
“Even before Border2Border started
we were thinking about the next ride and
making plans. But what we didn’t plan for
was Paddle2Pedal. The combination of two
disciplines and the overriding success of the
inaugural “girls only” challenge, which more
than doubled its original target, opened our
eyes to the future of the GM Fundraising
challenges. So, while this last traditional
‘cycling challenge’ as we know it, we intend
to go out on a high, we are by no means over
when it comes to setting epic challenges and
raising significant funds for Hope House.”
THE TEAM
The majority of the Border2Border team,
both riders and support, returned to take part
in the challenge. Following his involvement
in ‘Paddle2Pedal’ Glyn Moorhouse joined the
team of riders. Speaking ahead of the event
Glyn commented: “Supporting the cycling
element of Paddle2Pedal was a great experience.
I enjoy cycling and trained with my wife Tina,
who took part in the Paddle2Pedal, so it was
an easy decision to agree to come along and
support that challenge. It was an even easier
decision to sign up to ‘From Russia With
Hope’. I was excited but also very nervous.
Aside from fundraising, the main priority
before the event was to train hard and be at
peak fitness by the time we set off.”
While Glyn was the only new rider, they also
welcomed Tim Ferkin of Caldwell, and Alan Rees
of Panoramic Doors to the support team alongside
stalwarts Paul Godwin of Vast PR, Bob Plant and
Mighton Products MD, Mike Derham.
For more information about ‘From Russia
With Hope’ visit www.gmfundraising.
co.uk/From RussiaWithHope
Like GM Fundraising on Facebook or follow: @gmfundraising on Twitter, for regular updates. Each of the team has their own dedicated
Just Giving page as well as a general team one: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/GMFFRWH
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