Veteran cyclists in marathon ride from Channel to the Med
SEPTUAGENARIAN cyclists who rode the length of France look set to raise more than £2,000 for charity.
Tony Wallis, 73, and Tony Thomas, 72, who are friends from Hinckley United Reformed Church, spent two weeks cycling from St Malo on the English Channel to Narbonne on the Mediterranean coast.
Each was hoping to raise at least £500 to be shared between Hinckley Homeless Group, which runs Hinckley’s Lawrence House hostel for homeless young people, and Syston-based charity Inter Care, which provides medical aid to Africa.
Now, it looks as if they will more than double their target.
Retired science teacher Mr Wallis, who used to teach at St Martin’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Stoke Golding, said: “We have had a number of anonymous donors sponsoring us and are still collecting sponsorship money from various sources.
“Everyone has been very generous in their giving.”
He said he and retired electrical engineer Mr Thomas has been given an “excellent reception” en route.
“We were particularly struck by the excellent reception we had from almost every French person we met and their helpfulness, as well as the courtesy of the drivers on giving us a wide berth on the road when overtaking us.”
The pair took a picture of themselves paddling in the Mediterranean sea to prove they completed the route.
Donations can still be made to the pair in support of Hinckley Homeless Group at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/tonywallistonythomas and for Inter Care at give.everydayhero.com/uk/ two-tonys-cycling-st-malo-to-narbonne