Tough cycling challenge in aid of Rainbow House

A group of cyclists tackled the notoriously difficult Fred Whitton Challenge and raised nearly £5,000 for Rainbow House, Mawdesley.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th May 2017, 16:47 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 21:28 BST
Jonathan Parr, Damien McDonald, Marc Summers, Dave Bond and Simon Bird completed the Fred Whitton Challenge for Rainbow HouseJonathan Parr, Damien McDonald, Marc Summers, Dave Bond and Simon Bird completed the Fred Whitton Challenge for Rainbow House
Jonathan Parr, Damien McDonald, Marc Summers, Dave Bond and Simon Bird completed the Fred Whitton Challenge for Rainbow House

Marc Summers, Simon Bird, Dave Bond, Damien McDonald and Jonathan Parr completed the route in a riding time of eight hours.

The Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the most popular cycling sportives in the UK. It is a very tough route totalling 112 miles around the Lake District, starting at Grasmere and taking in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose passes.

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Hardknott includes a 30 per cent gradient and comes at 98 miles. By the end of the ride they had climbed 13,000ft, equivalent to half the height of Mount Everest.

The group have supported Rainbow House, in Mawdesley, as a charity over many years through numerous events including attending charity balls, corporate support days and sponsorship events.

Marc Summers said: “This is a charity close to all of us as we have seen the real benefits of the conductive education methods on our close friends’ daughter Katie Maddison who attends the centre.

“The progress and development of Katie’s abilities every time we meet her continues to grow and amaze us. By supporting Rainbow House and keeping it going though fund-raising in our small way, we will continue to help Katie reach her potential and also help the other children who benefit as much as Katie.

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“We were delighted to be able to beat our fund-raising target for Rainbow House and also for the Fred Whitton Challenge’s charity, the North West Air Ambulance who received £2,000.”

Carole Cochrane, CEO at Rainbow House said: “What an amazing achievement and a great boost to our fund-raising which is very much appreciated by us all. We are very grateful for all the support Marc, Dave, Damien, Simon and Jonathan give to us at Rainbow House.”

Click here for another fund-raiser's idea to help boost funds /rubik-s-cube-is-on-the-run-1-8524885