JMG Townends MD David Fryer rides 260 miles for charity

York businessman to ride 260 miles for Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity

As one epic cycle challenge ends in Yorkshire, another begins for a York businessman who will complete 260 miles to help raise funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and their Keep it up Campaign.

David Fryer, managing director at JMG Townends insurance brokers in York, will joined 150 cyclists on 2 May to take part in the eighth annual Pedal 4 Pounds bike ride. The challenge will see riders from across Yorkshire cycle the Wagner way – a gruelling route from Dortmund in Germany to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, over three days.

David Fryer comments, “We will be cycling 100 miles or so each day for three consecutive days which is going to be extremely hard going. Training for the challenge has been tough as it hasn’t been easy fitting in distance training as well as running a business. There have been a lot of cold dark nights spent out on my bike but it’s been worth its and I now feel ready for the challenge.

“I’m very proud of the fact that I’m one of only two riders to have completed all seven previous Pedal for Pounds events, with the other rider achieving that accolade being Sean Jarvis, commercial director at Huddersfield Town. Previous Pedal for Pounds bike rides have contributed over £1 million to the total raised for the keep it up campaign, since its inception in 2009. I am personally hoping to raise in excess of £1,000 for the campaign.”

The challenge was established in 2009 when the chairman of Huddersfield Town Football Club announced that on behalf of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance he would cycle to the first away game that came out in the up and coming fixtures.  David Fryer was at a business function with Huddersfield Town’s Commercial Director, Sean Jarvis who encouraged him to take part.

Cyclists departed from Hull, East Yorkshire on Tuesday 2^nd May via ferry to Rotterdam and will then be transported by coach to Dortmund, Germany. They began the return journey from Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion cycling approximately 87 miles, passing into the Netherlands where day one ended in the city of Nijmegen. On day two, the cyclists continue through the Netherlands until they reach Rotterdam 88 miles later where they catch the evening ferry back to Hull. The route will complete on day three after a further 80 miles cycling from Hull back to PPG Canalside, Huddersfield.

Katie Collinson, Partnerships Manager from Yorkshire Air Ambulance said, “We need to raise £12,000 every day to keep both of Yorkshire’s Air Ambulances maintained and in the air. The generosity we receive really is the life-blood of the Charity and we are extremely grateful for every effort to raise money on our behalf. We wish David and the 150 cyclists taking part the best of luck.”