Rock Ride raises over £10,000 for Legion
21 July 2010
Nine riders cycled over 1500 miles, covering an amazing 150 miles per day, in a sponsored cycle ride leaving Gibraltar in late June and arriving at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire on 10 July, raising over £60,000 for five different good causes.
Two of the 'Rockriders', Simon Bourne and Simon Nicholl, raised over £10,000 between them for the Legion. Simon Bourne was riding in memory of a young Senior Aircraftsman, Luke Southgate, who was killed in Afghanistan two weeks before his 21st birthday earlier this year. Simon carried a flag for Luke for the whole of the journey.
"This was an amazing achievement, and we are so grateful to both Simons," said Community Fundraiser Louise Sherwood.
The team returned to a
triumphant welcome from over 300 friends and supporters at a
reception organised by Buckingham's Grenville Masonic Lodge who
were the main sponsors of the ride.
The official welcoming party included Mayor of Buckingham Mike Smith and The Province of Buckinghamshire's Grand Master of Freemasons, Right Worshipful Brother Ray Reed, who expressed his admiration and congratulations to the team for undertaking such a marvellous project. John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Buckingham, spoke of the courage and endurance of the riders who had each given so much to ensure the success of the ride and to raise funds for the five charities.
The ride instigator and organiser of the venture, Tony Cersell, was presented with a commemorative book by Ray Reed in recognition of his achievement, and the Rockriders then presented Tony with a yellow jersey signed by each of them, as a tribute to all that he had done to support them.
