A team of 28 amateur cyclists have set off from Cardiff Castle on a gruelling 600km bike ride to Edinburgh Castle.
More than 150 spectators gathered to send off the C2Cycling team who are pedalling from castle to castle over the next five days to raise vital funds for Velindre Cancer Centre and LATCH Welsh children’s cancer charity.
The ride sees the team call at Ludlow, Warrington, Kendal and Lockerbie before the final 109 km stretch into Edinburgh.
Caerphilly-based ride organiser, Nick Robbins says: “Today is the culmination of two years of planning and training. Every rider here has been out training in all weathers over the last few months and to have so much support here cheering us on as we leave the castle is just incredible.
“Just 10 months ago we launched our fundraising campaign to raise £50,000 for two of South Wales’s leading cancer charities. This week we reached that target which is just tremendous news. Our challenge now is to keep fundraising so we’ll be pedalling hard to get to Edinburgh and raise as much money as we possibly can.”
The starting klaxon was fired by 10-year old Hywel Evans whose father, Matt, led the first group out of Cardiff Castle.
In June 2020, Hywel’s younger brother, Rhys, age seven, was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a rare blood disorder that prevents the body producing enough new blood cells. Just four weeks after the diagnosis Rhys passed away but the children’s cancer charity, LATCH, was there by the family’s side throughout the harrowing ordeal.
Matt says: “LATCH was there for us throughout the most traumatic period in our family life and they continue to support us even today. It is one thing to see this happen to others, but it is not until it affects you directly that you realise what an incredible job these people do.
“Riding from Cardiff to Edinburgh is going to be a tough challenge both physically and mentally. Having Hywel fire the starting klaxon is really moving and means a lot. I’m sure there will be plenty of tears along the way but it will all be worth it if we can reach our target for these fantastic charities.”
C2Cycling is a group of 28 keen cyclists and support crew, from across South Wales, who have come together every two years since 2015 to complete gruelling long distance rides from Cardiff to Paris for charity. Due to Covid restrictions, the 2021 ride was arranged for this year and planned for the UK.
