Two golfing buddies swapped fairways for open roads to complete a 100-mile sponsored bike ride, raising much needed funds for the Hannah Payne Memorial Trust.
Andy Gordon and Andy Chubb set off at 5am on Saturday, cycling for more than five hours each day, and calling in at a number of golf courses around Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.
Andy Gordon, 33, is a site manager with Persimmon Homes Midlands who have made the Hannah Payne Memorial Trust their chosen charity for the year and promised to double whatever the pair raise.
He said: “We tried to make the bike ride a fun event rather than a time trial, and I think we managed that. We quite enjoyed it in a strange way, and because we were doing it for a reason, knowing someone is going to benefit from our efforts, it really spurred us on.
“We had lots of support along the way, managed to call in at all seven golf clubs and were even treated to a slap up breakfast on Saturday by Angela at my old local, The White Horse in Husbourne Crawley.
“We’re hoping to raise at least £2,000 for this fantastic cause, and Judith Potter, deputy managing director for Persimmon Homes, has promised that the company will match whatever we do raise which is amazing.”
Andy Chubb, 35, a business development director for Haines Watts and who lives in Grendon, is club captain at The Millbrook Golf Club, one of the courses visited en route.
He said: “Andy and I felt we had done nothing of any note for any charity or good cause and one conversation later we decided to cycle more than 100 miles from golf club to golf club. We are not the healthiest or the fittest so this really was a challenge, not only the ride itself but also the training.”
Both men are a little sore and stiff after their challenge, but thrilled with their achievements.
“I’m delighted that we actually managed to complete the challenge,” said Andy Gordon. “But I am especially pleased that we have managed to raise awareness and some much needed funds for the Memorial Trust.
“We owe massive thanks to Judith Potter at Persimmon Homes for the support with clothing etc and the moral support, Angie at the White Horse for feeding us, my wife Alex for driving the van and generally supporting us but most of all the people who sponsored us.”
There is still chance to donate to the charity through the duo’s just giving page at http://www.justgiving.com/Chubb-Gordon
The Hannah Payne Memorial Trust was set up following the tragic death in a car accident of 17-year-old Hannah from Mears Ashby in 2006. It provides comfortable, well-equipped areas in hospitals for the family and friends of patients, and was among hundreds who entered into Persimmon’s 40th anniversary competition last year. It was shortlisted to the last three for the region.
The seven golf courses visited during the charity bike ride were Buckingham GC, Chiltern Forest GC, Leighton Buzzard GC, The Millbrook, The Bedfordshire GC, St Neots GC and Bedford & County GC, and finishing up at The Swan at Astwood.
Persimmon Homes Midlands builds new homes throughout Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.