A team of intrepid cyclists at Open GI took on a challenge with a difference last weekend, all in aid of St Richard’s Hospice.
On Saturday 6th August, a group of Open GI employees travelled to the Lake District to take on a gruelling climb of the UK’s top two toughest cycling climbs, Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass. Having faced the challenge head on and reached the summits one after the other, the brave group turned their wheels and circled back to complete the two passes in reverse, finishing up back at their starting point.
The team’s ‘33%ers Cycle Climb’ challenge, which included 3,200 feet of climbing with the ascent hitting 1:3 (33%) in places, has raised over £1,000 to help the local charity care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their loved ones.
Darren Mansell, Infrastructure Architect at Open GI, said; “We wanted to take on a cycling challenge that was quite arduous and required lots of effort so we looked for the most challenging climbs in the UK only to find that the top two, Hardknott and Wrynose Passes in the Lake District, are right next to each other and so this seemed the obvious choice. On the day we caused some slight consternation by blocking the pass for an hour when the minibus got stuck but we were finally rescued by a kind driver with a Jeep and tow rope who happened to be nearby.
He added; “St Richard’s is close to all of us as a local charity which provides an essential service for many, many local people. We appreciate that we are able to do things like this so we can raise money for St Richard’s to help people who currently can’t.”
To donate to the 33%ers Cycle Climb fund, visit www.justgiving.com/33percenters
Photo (L:R): Daniel Roberts, Andrew Dorman, Rob Bennett, Sean Garfield, Darren Mansell, Josh Stancombe and Mark Davies