YORK BUSINESS DUO ‘PEDAL FOR POUNDS’ TO MARK GROUP’S 45th ANNIVERSARY YEAR

A York business duo will set off on a 282-mile cycling challenge on Wednesday 9^th May, to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance as part of the company’s 45^th anniversary fundraising efforts.

Jane Haddon and David Fryer, from York-based JMG Townends insurance brokers, will join 150 cyclists from across Yorkshire taking part in the Pedal for Pounds 9 ‘Last Goal Posts’ cycle race which will cover 282 miles over three days.

The Pedal for Pounds challenge was established in 2009 by the Huddersfield Town Football Club chairman and has since become an annual event, supported by Huddersfield Town fans from across the region. Cyclists will depart from Huddersfield before catching the ferry to Zeebrugge and arriving in Avelin, France, ready for their own “Le Grande Depart” on Wednesday. Cyclists will travel from France, through Belgium and back to Huddersfield Town to raise money for the Keep It Up campaign, which generates funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the Forget me Not Trust, Kirkwood Hospice and the Town Foundation.

David is one of only five riders to have completed all eight previous Pedal 4 Pounds events. Having completed 4 of the previous challenges, Jane has come out of retirement to attempt what is her fifth Pedal for Pounds. This year, Jane and David have the added incentive of raising money towards the JM Glendinning group’s fundraising target to mark its 45^th anniversary year.

Says David Fryer, managing director at JMG Townends, “I enjoy working towards a physical and mental challenge outside of my day to day role. It’s exciting and daunting at the same time but we feel prepared and the charity fundraising aspect helps focus our minds. We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved already, having raised £2k for charity. Pedal for Pounds bike rides have contributed over £2 million to the total raised for the campaign since its inception in 2009, which is an incredible achievement by all those who have taken part.”