Injured servicemen benefit from motor dealers charity ride

A MOTOR dealer has completed a gruelling bike ride between the UK’s capital cities as part of a national fundraising campaign for injured servicemen.

Sherwoods general manager Simon MacConachie hopes to raise a total of £3,000 for the charity Help for Heroes after riding the 496 miles from Edinburgh to London.

“If I thought it was fantastic riding out of Edinburgh, it was absolutely incredible reaching London,” said Simon, 36, who lives near Richmond.

“We thought the Borders were going to be the toughest but County Durham held its own in terms of naughty hills and when I reached Richmond I was desperate to pop home, especially as it was raining.”

Simon, who works for the Vauxhall dealership with branches in Darlington, Stockton and Northallerton, joined the Tartan Express Hero Ride, riding with a party of wounded or injured servicemen and veterans, as well as other volunteers.

The route also took them to Phoenix House, the recovery centre run by Help for Heroes and supported by the Royal British Legion at Catterick Garrison.

Simon said: “There were 25 riders in my group and you really did feel part of something big, especially when we met another 1,000 at the Cenotaph and the Last Post was read out.

“I wondered if my legs were going to get through another day but the bond we developed became really strong and the riders’ senses of humour really spurred me on.”

Anyone still wanting to sponsor Simon should log on to www.bmycharity.com/simonmacH4Htartanexpress or make a donation at one of the dealerships.