Gripple

Posted: 03/05/2010

Epic bike ride set to raise funds

At the end of the month four daring employees of Gripple (and our sister company Loadhog) will be embarking on a monumental bike ride from France to England. Starting at our Gripple Europe office in Obernai, Alsace, the 680 mile route will take them through Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, finally ending up at our main manufacturing hub in Sheffield. The team hopes to raise funds for two very important causes: international medical aid charity Médecins Sans Frontières, and local children's hospice Bluebell Wood.

Cyclists Gordon Macrae, Andy Buckle, Dave Chong and Sam Lake are all currently in training for the event, which commences on May 27 and concludes on June 4. It is estimated that the four participants will burn 70,000 calories and generate 500,000 wheel revolutions between them. We're inviting everyone we know across the world to help raise money - if everyone contributes just a small amount, we're confident we can bring in a sizeable sum.

To help make the event a reality, Gripple is covering the cost of hiring and running support vehicles and bringing the team back across the Channel. Special Projects Manager Gordon Macrae said: "This is a massive logistical operation which I hope will not only be a tremendous help to these very worthwhile charities but also a great team building exercise. We're getting as many people as possible involved, to help make the tired legs and blistered bottoms much more bearable."

To find out more, you can download the PDF for more information, or you can simply donate via Just Giving to Médecins Sans Frontières or Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice. Additionally, on June 4 a special stage has been organised for UK customers, suppliers and staff to cycle the 70 miles between Hull and Sheffield. For more details about this contact Gordon Macrae by phone (0114 2288 659) or by e-mail (g.macrae@gripple.com).

You can also keep up to date with how the ride is progressing via the Tour de Gripple blog.