Fundraiser finishes 1,000-mile cycle challenge from French Alps to family farm
A WEST Wales woman has completed a huge cycling challenge from the French Alps to Carmarthenshire.
Nerys Howells, originally from Trelech, Carmarthenshire, has lived in the small town of Tignes in France for the past nine years – it is one on the largest and highest skiing resorts in the French Alps.
She decided to take on the gruelling cycle ride of 1,560km (almost 1,000 miles) from Tignes to Trelech. Although Nerys has made the journey many times to visit family and friends, it has never been by bike.
The cycle ride ended at her family’s farm in Trelech on Saturday, September 18 and was called Tignes i’r Ty (Tignes to the house).
As part of the challenge, Nerys was fundraising for Calon Hearts, the leading heart charity in Wales for placing defibrillators in communities and delivering training. She said: “As someone who lost my father at the age of 57 to an unexpected heart attack, I’m encouraging people to get tested. We were fortunate to have a defibrillator nearby, which is essential equipment to provide time and a vital chance while the sufferer waits for an ambulance.
“Unfortunately for us, all efforts were made in vain.”
Nerys hopes to raise enough money to hold a screening day locally, to detect abnormalities and avoid future complications and suffering for others.
Starting at an altitude of 6889ft, the first section of the ride was mostly downhill to the picturesque Lake Annecy, before travelling through the French countryside to Paris. Nerys continued north towards Calais to cross the channel to Dover. It was then onto London, across south west England, crossing the Severn Bridge and onto Welsh soil, with only 250km to go before arriving in Trelech.
Nerys said: “I can’t thank people enough for their kind words, support and contributions over the last two weeks. We’ve now surpassed the target, raising over £10,000 and counting. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to what has been an unforgettable challenge and experience.”