A dedicated group of ten MAMILS (Middle Aged Men In Lycra) from Marlborough achieved the 480+ mile round trip in just five days raising money for several charities – including Arthritis Research, Cancer Research and Calm Charity for children with terminal illness. One rider, Paul Watkins alone raised over £1,000 for Cancer Research, whilst another, Jim Macleod achieved over £1,200 for Arthritis Reserach.
Organised by Tom Nicholls, Assistant Headteacher of Marlborough’s St John’s Academy, each wearing their ‘Smiley’ yellow jersey uniform, they averaged roughly 100 miles per day managing this feat without any back-up or support vehicles. All they needed, they carried.
All ‘social’ cyclists, they had been in training for six months or more, mixing the day jobs of teaching, medicine, sales etc with hours on the road needed to achieve the fitness level required. Most of the group had recently completed the ‘White Horse Challenge’ 90 mile mountain bike ride around Wiltshire, and two had previously completed the gruelling Land’s End to John O’Groats trip.
Where next year? Not sure yet says Tom Nicholls, but somewhere equally challenging…….
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