Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Nine cyclists from builders merchant Buildbase have completed their London to Paris challenge and have raised around £25,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support for their efforts.
The cyclists completed around 480km in just four days. Taking part in the challenge from Buildbase were: David Grimsdale, Tim Felton, Neil Parsons, David Robertson and Colin Peacock. Manufacturers’ representatives taking on the challenge are: Nigel Williams (Premier Forest), Jason Drinkwater (Hanson), Mark Reid (Keystone) and Krystal Webster (Aggregate Industries).
The four-day adventure began at Blackheath Common at 7am. The busy commuter traffic of South East London seemed difficult at the time but would paled in comparison with the steep hill climbs of the North Downs of Kent.
“This was the most challenging aspect of our journey, catching every cyclist by surprise,” says Buildbase regional director David Grimsdale, , who led the team. “One of our crew suffered six punctures during this stage.
“Once in France we travelled through some very scenic villages but by far the most poignant aspect of the entire journey was our stop in the Somme district to visit the war graves of soldiers who lost their lives during World War One. It was very sobering to see how young they were and we all felt very lucky to be alive, even with a few aching muscles.
“On our approach to Paris in the last stage the heavens opened and it rained continuously for over two hours. As a bonus the sun came out as we entered the outskirts of Paris.”
Every Grafton Merchanting GB brand, including Buildbase, has adopted Macmillan as its national charity partner in 2011, their centenary year. The aim is to raise £200,000 for the Macmillan Support Line, a helpline that offers practical and financial support and guidance to people living with cancer.
