Julian and a group of waste industry colleagues departed from London’s Guildhall at 7am on Friday 3 July and arrived at the Eiffel Tower on Monday 6 July at 5.30pm having cycled approximately 350 miles.

​

Together the team managed to raise over £25k for assorted charities including the Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2015 and Hope House Children’s Hospices.

​

Julian, who admitted to having cycled a mere 28 miles in one go before the event, said the ride was definitely a Personal Best: “It was a fantastic experience and I’ve made some wonderful new friends.  Looking up at the Eiffel Tower on Monday was a magnificent end to a great adventure.”

​

The challenge began with a 90-mile cycle ride to Dover where the team stayed overnight before catching a ferry to Dunkirk on Saturday 4 July.  From Dunkirk it was 100 miles to the next stop, Valenciennes, where the team spent the second night before cycling a further 80 miles to Soissons on Sunday. On Monday it was the final leg of the journey, a 70-mile ride to Paris. The whole journey went very well with only two minor occurrences; a ferry delay and Julian forgetting to unclick his foot sending him crashing on the floor (twice)!

​

The team of cyclists were facilitated by a support crew comprising Jake Peters and Shaun Hamilton from VWS, plus Kate Lloyd, Trevor Evans and Jason Airey from CMS Supatrak.  They accompanied the cyclists in five vehicles, providing route guidance and refreshments.

Continued Julian: “The support team was invaluable. Without them we definitely couldn’t have achieved this challenge.”

​

Julian has already committed to taking part again next year and hopes to get an even bigger team together to raise more money.

​

Donations can still be made at http://justgiving.com/JulianVWS

ENDS.                                            July 2015

 

​