A sponsored cycle around schools in the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust has raised over £4,500 for charity.
Trust Lead Lay Chaplain Jamie Agius and his friend Mark Newing set out to cycle around all 25 schools in the Trust to raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee.
Extreme weather conditions cut the three-day ‘Tour de St Ralph’ one day short but the pair have raised £4,502 so far and they plan to complete the planned course in the future.
The total journey would be 188 miles, mostly uphill, through Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Stockport and the High Peak.
All money raised through sponsorship will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee, which brings together 15 leading UK aid charities which are experts in humanitarian aid and specialise in different areas of disaster response.
Jamie and Mark visited Saint John Houghton and St Thomas’ in Ilkeston, The Priory in Eastwood, St Elizabeth’s in Belper, Christ the King in Alfreton and St Joseph’s in Matlock on the first day.
On the second day they stopped at St Phillip Howard, Saint Mary’s, All Saints, St Charles’ and St Margaret’s, all in Glossop, St Mary’s in Marple Bridge, Saint Mary’s in New Mills, St Thomas More and St Anne’s, both in Buxton.
Jamie said: “We were slightly trepidacious before setting off as the weather was predicted to be pretty horrendous with Storms Dudley and Eunice arriving during the ride. As a result, we decided that our original plan to sleep outdoors was probably not wise, so found some inside spaces to stay overnight.
“Unfortunately, the weather predictions for the Friday didn’t look good so we made the decision to postpone the last leg of the tour and head straight home to Nottingham. It was a tough decision but one we felt was the safest.
“It was a brilliant experience not withstanding some of the biggest hills I’ve ever ridden up. We received some brilliant welcomes and motivating send-offs which really helped us move from place to place. I would like to say a huge thank you to anyone who may have donated. Finally, I have to say that the words of St Ralph Sherwin, ‘Today and not tomorrow’, really were the motivation for doing this ride.”
