Over 15 days, 1,500
miles and three countries, 20 bomb disposal experts raised over £3,600 for the charity,
Felix Fund.
Travelling just by bike, the Tour de Troops set
out from Edinburgh on 27th May, where they cycled for an average of 100 miles
per day, before arriving in Bielefield, Germany on 11th June.
The event, sponsored by Kirintec - a security
technology company, saw the determined cyclists from the British Army swap
blast suits for Lycra, raising money for the Felix Fund, a charity which helps
those affected by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Frank Ross,
helped launch the charity cycle, saying: "Day in and day out, these men
and women risk their own lives as bomb disposal experts, working in highly
dangerous circumstances to keep the rest of us safe. This is their down time,
yet they have chosen to spend it raising thousands to help others.
“Each and every one of these cyclists is an
inspiration. It has been an honour to set them on their way.”
The team made their way to England, France and
finished up in Germany, passing through many towns and cities close to their
military bases along the way.
Kirintec also
offered their support with Stephen Jakeman, Senior Software Engineer, joining
in cycling the 56-mile leg from Ashchurch to Didcot.
Stephen said “As an
organisation, we couldn’t have been prouder to sponsor such a fantastic cause
and it was a pleasure to join the cyclists. Recent events demonstrate the vital
role that EOD operators and equipment have in our industry. Individuals put
their lives on the line every day, mostly without the public knowing. I implore
you to dig deep and donate what you can to Felix Fund”
Melanie Moughton,
Chief Executive Officer at Felix Fund, said: “We can’t overstate the strength
of this cycling team and the significance of this tour to our charity.
"They’re all people of exceptional ability and
courage and have undertaken a huge challenge for a charity that is close to
their hearts.”
One of the cyclists, Captain Wadsworth, was
integral to organising the event.
He said: “The tour was no mean feat. The troops
resilience throughout the tour was admirable. Thank you to friends, family and
spectators who provided support and motivation along the way."
Felix Fund's charity activities also provide
essential mental health support.
They have played a significant part in the care
of over 100 EOD teams returning from the Afghanistan conflict and the charity
now offers Dashboard Courses on mindfulness which helps to build awareness of
the warning signs linked to mental health problems and sharing coping
techniques.
Every member of the Tour de Troops cycling team
belongs to the 11 EOD Regiment RLC (Royal Logistic Corps). If you'd like to
support the charity's work, you can donate via their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tourdestroops.
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