A Sussex business is supporting a team of cyclists who are completing a gruelling 1,450 mile cross-Europe challenge to raise funds for a cause close to their hearts.
The team of 19 cyclists set off from Portsmouth on Saturday (10th September) in the ‘Pompey to Pompeii’ cycle challenge and hope to raise £75,000 for the Association for Glycogen Storage Disease UK (AGSD-UK).
Eurovans Volkswagen Van Centre has lent support to the team, which mainly consists of local businessmen from the Hastings and Bexhill area, by providing a brand new Crafter vehicle which will be used to transport the food and provisions required by the team on a daily basis.
Luca Venditto, from Hastings, set up the ride to raise funds for the charity which has supported his ten-year-old daughter Jodie who suffers with Gylcogen Storage Disease.
Speaking of the challenge, Luca, said: “The AGSD-UK provides support and help for individuals and families affected by GSD, a disease which causes perilous hypoglycaemic attacks, muscle pains and wasting.
“The aim of the challenge is to raise awareness of the fantastic work the charity does and as much money as possible so that we can help towards research into the best ways that families can help children who are suffering.
“We have been training and preparing since June last year for this challenge and Eurovans Volkswagen Van Centre has supported us right from the start.
“The Crafter will really help with our challenge. It is fantastic to have a reliable vehicle which is large enough to accommodate all of our bikes when they are not in use, and all of the stock which we will require.
“It is with thanks to Eurovans and all our sponsors that we have been able to turn this cycling challenge into a reality. We would like to say a big thanks to everyone involved.”
The demanding ride will see the team pedal from Portsmouth, across Europe to the finish line in southern Italy, a route which tackles the Alps and some of the stages ridden on the Tour d’France.
Bruce Smithson, Eurovans director, is delighted to support the charity ride.
He said:
“We wish the team the best of luck for their challenge and hope the ride is a huge success, generating lots of money to support the vital work done by AGSD-UK.”
Eurovans Volkswagen Van Centre has sites in Brighton, Eastbourne and Crawley.