KingswayCARES Ride Diaries

12 Cyclists I 4 Countries I 4 Days

Day One: Eindhoven to Antwerp

And just like that, Day One is done! And we've raised an incredible £15,000 for our KingswayCARES initiative and the local Hove charity, Food and Friendship Luncheon Club.

The team has cycled 102km from Eindhoven to Antwerp, taking in some beautiful Dutch and Belgian scenery along the way. There was plenty of enthusiasm, plenty of Lycra and, thankfully, only one minor incident.

Olly forgot his cycling shoes were clipped into his pedals and promptly fell sideways into a big pile of sand. Given how much of today's route was alongside canals, we're calling that a very lucky escape! 😂

Olly Needs A Hoist

And finally… Olly needs a hoist

After 102km, the team's final challenge of the day was apparently getting Olly out of bed. His message to the group:

“I will need to be hoisted off this incredibly comfy bed! Where's Kingsway Care when you need them?” Olly, Founder of Kingsway Care."

Supporting Two Special Causes

The money raised will support two very special causes close to Kingsway Care's heart.

Food & Friendship Luncheon Club brings older people together every Tuesday for food, friendship and companionship, helping tackle loneliness and isolation in our community.

And every Thursday, the luncheon club entertains adults with learning difficulties providing something to look forward to each week.

Where Will The Donations Go?

• £10 = lunch and companionship for two people
• £20 = Birthday cake for six people to share and celebrate together
• £50 = Return transport to the Luncheon Club for six people
• £150 = Lunch ingredients for one week for up to 150 people

Thank you to each cyclist who has funded their own travel, cycling equipment and personal expenses for the challenge. We're also incredibly grateful to our corporate sponsors, Cyberbridge for funding our colourful cycling jerseys and Forescout Technologies, who are subsidising the team's accommodation for the four nights of the ride. That means every donation made will go towards our two causes: Food & Friendship Luncheon Club and our KingswayCARES initiative.

Video Message From Food and Friendship Luncheon Club

Caroline sent us a wonderful video message from Tuesday's Food and Friendship Luncheon Club. It shows how the fundraising will support the charity to combat loneliness and food poverty in Hove. Watch the YouTube Short

The KingswayCARES initiative

KingswayCARES helps make memorable experiences possible for our Clients that they might otherwise be unable to afford. Whether that's enjoying a special day out, experiencing something new or simply having the opportunity to do something they've always wanted to do.

It's about creating moments of joy and helping people live life to the full. Such as a Chichester Canal Cream Tea Cruise! 

Day Two: Antwerp to Bruges

104km | More than £15,000 raised

Two days in the saddle. Another 104km under their wheels. And 12 cyclists who are discovering that cobblestones and tired legs are not a particularly happy combination. Today brought rain, aching legs, sore bums and a particularly unforgiving final approach into Bruges over the cobbles.

But the team are still smiling.And there’s a very good reason why.They’ve now raised more than £15,000 for two causes close to Kingsway Care’s heart: Food and Friendship Luncheon Club and KingswayCARES.

Personally, I found today hard again, but the soreness & little bits of discomfort feel pretty insignificant compared with what everyone’s generosity is helping make possible.

Olly, Founder of Kingsway Care

Day Three: Bruges > Dunkirk > Dover > Ashford

137km cycling. 68km on the ferry. 205km in total.

“The hardest day yet. Brutal. Brilliant. DONE!”

Olly's words probably sum up Day 3 rather well.

After two long days in the saddle, the team of 12 cyclists were up at 6am, in the dark, ready to leave Bruges and make the dash to Dunkirk for the ferry.

They cycled more than 85km through Belgium and France before reaching the ferry, tired but still smiling and encouraging each other to keep going.

And they were rewarded with a little time to recover on board. Or, more accurately, to completely collapse on the nearest sofa. Arthur demonstrated exactly how it's done. 😂

Then came Dover.

After crossing the Channel, there was still a final stretch to Ashford. And unfortunately for 12 already exhausted cyclists, the route from Dover included some seriously unforgiving hills.

The White Cliffs may be beautiful. They are considerably less beautiful when you're attempting to cycle up them after 85km, a ferry crossing and two days of cycling already in your legs.

There were gritted teeth, aching muscles and plenty of determination.

There was also another small chapter in the ongoing Olly vs. Clip-In Pedals saga.

Olly managed to fall off his bike twice, both times landing in a bush after forgetting that his cycling shoes were still clipped into the pedals.Three days in, and apparently this remains a work in progress. 

14 hours later...

Ashford was finally reached.

After 137km of cycling and 14 hours on the road, everyone was physically and mentally exhausted. But the biggest thing the team took away from Day 3 wasn't how hard it had been.

It was how brilliantly they had supported one another.Checking in on each other. Waiting for each other. Encouraging each other up the hills. Laughing when things went wrong. And, somehow, still smiling.

That spirit has become one of the best parts of this challenge. And so has the fundraising.

Every time another donation comes in, another message of support arrives or someone shares what the ride means to them, it gives the team another reason to keep pedalling.

THE FINAL DAY! 🚴‍♂️

After three epic days, hundreds of kilometres, rain, hills, cobblestones, a few tumbles and an impressive amount of Lycra, our 12 cyclists are on their final push from Ashford to London Paddington today.

And we've got one very important question...

What number should go on the cheque?

Total: £15,331

Thank you to every friend, relative, colleague and supporter who donated, shared our updates, sent messages and cheered the team on.

And a huge thank you to our 12 cyclists for the grit, determination and endurance they have shown over the past four days, all in support of Food & Friendship Luncheon Club and KingswayCARES.

We are incredibly proud of every one of them. 💛