In the wake of Britain’s succcess in this year’s Tour de France, two financial advisers from Spalding will following in Chris Froome’s cycling tracks for a mini tour of their own in aid of charity.
Scott Woods and Jon Bingham, who professionally make up Bingham-Woods IFA, will be embarking on a 311 kilometre cycle ride around France in October.
Previously the pair have put their fundraising talents to the test by doing sponsored walks and swims, but this will be the first time the pair have taken to the saddle.
And it is hoped their efforts will boost the coffers of two very good causes – the Samaritans and Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Scott said: “Somebody contacts the Samaritans every six minutes and every call costs the charity £3.83 to answer.
“They desperately need our support to continue to provide their lifesaving service.
“And each year 8,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but it has the lowest survival rate of all cancers and that has not improved in the past 40 years.
“Yet, despite its high death rate and lack of improvement in the chances of survival, pancreatic cancer attracts little research funding in comparison with many other cancers.
“This cause has become very poignant to us at Bingham-Woods as our friend and former employee Alan Rasberry was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May this year and we lost him six weeks later.”
Scott and Jon’s latest venture will start in the shadow of the famous Mont Ventoux and finish in the Tour de France stage host town of Nice on the Cote d’Azur.
The ride echoes the route of the 100th Tour de France and will see the two cyclists covering more than 300km in three days.
Scott added: “We will not only have the enormous distance and excruciating saddles to overcome, but it will be over mountainous alpine terrain along the way.
“We’re envisaging aching limbs and the sale of Sudocrem to rocket.”
The pair have set themselves a target of raising £1,500 for each charity.
Donations can be made ta the firm’s office in Bridge Street or via the JustGiving website.
Go to http://www.justgiving.com/Scott-Woods to help the Samaritans or http://www.justgiving.com/Scott-Woods1 to help Pancreatic Cancer Research.