Dunkirk to Arnhem Cycle Challenge
2024-06-04 08:00 - 2024-06-09 17:00 (Europe/London)
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, 55 cyclists and 11 support team members, including quite a few ex-servicemen will set off from Tranmere Rovers ground on 4th June and will be cycling from France to the Netherlands. The Paul Lavelle Foundation will take on three countries in four days.
They will begin their journey riding from Calais in France along the route the British troops took to the bridge in Arnhem via Ypres and Antwerp before finishing in Rotterdam.
As well as laying wreaths on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside and the British Commonwealth Association the team has been asked to take part in the official last post ceremony at Ypres. The event happens each night in the town and has done so since 1929. We are extremely proud and honoured that we have been asked to take part in the official last post ceremony at Ypres Menin gate.
The cyclists have been riding throughout the winter months which hasn’t been easy given it’s rained for months on end, they are now hitting the longer miles which are needed as there are tough miles ahead each day including a 110-mile day riding from Antwerp to Arnhem.
This is going to be our biggest challenge yet because of the numbers we have involved. This challenge includes many new people who have never attempted anything like this before.
This will give the foundation a great opportunity for us to highlight our cause in supporting male victims of domestic abuse and male wellbeing in general as far too many men are continually ignored in society and this has to change.
Cyclists will also be raising awareness of male domestic abuse and well-being and raising funds along the way for Wirral Children Hospice, Claire House and Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity that supports bereaved military children.
We feel such an occasion needs to be honoured and never forgotten what those men and women did for this land and the world.
