Two intrepid cyclists, Nigel Petrie - Chairman of AD Group and Dedicated Micros - and Peter Vince, are starting an epic ten-day journey from Pfetterhouse in Switzerland Thursday (18 May) in a bid to cover the entire 400 mile length of the Western Front, the scene of some of the most arduous and costly battles of World War 1. With the invaluable help and support of the Royal British Legion, the duo hope that their journey will raise awareness of "the Line" and, crucially, under the wheels4freedom project collect the £12,000 required for three electric wheel chairs to transform the lives of veterans from conflicts ranging from WW2 to the Gulf. From their starting point in Switzerland Nigel and Peter's cycle journey to the Belgium coast will take them through the impressive Vosges Mountains and the notorious battlefields of Verdun, the Somme and Flanders. This route during The Great War featured an almost continuous line of trenches and barbed wire defences. They will be meeting all of their own costs and riding with no separate backup or support, taking all of the kit they need on their bikes.
Said Nigel Petrie: "We sincerely hope that the wheels4freedom project will encourage others to use 'the Line' as a route of pilgrimage and future fundraising for such a worthy cause. As we pass memorials along the way we intend to leave an explanatory tribute card and we also have permission to lay wreaths at the Menin Gate at Ypres during the Last Post ceremony. The primary objective of all of this is of course to purchase and maintain the three electric wheel chairs which will each be assigned to a victim of conflict by the Royal British Legion, giving them the sort of freedom that cannot be overstated."
Donations to help Nigel and Peter reach their target can be made in two ways. Either by sending a cheque to Nigel Petrie c/o Plas Eliseg, Llantysilio, Langollen, LL20 8DE made out to ‘The Royal British Legion'. Alternatively contributions can be made by credit/debit card online at www.bmycharity.com/wheels4freedom by going to "make a donation". Donations made online automatically attract Gift Aid tax relief for UK taxpayers.
Wheels4freedom follows on from Nigel and Peter's previous fundraising efforts which have seen them cycling more than 8000 miles and raising an impressive £80,000 for charity, to find out more please visit their website at http://www.biking4charity.org.uk
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