Team to cycle 200 miles for Crisis

Wednesday 11th July 2012

Colleagues from a housing association will endeavour to cycle 200 miles as part of a biking challenge to support the work of homeless charity Crisis.

The 17-strong team from Derwentside Homes, in Stanley, County Durham, will cycle from Edinburgh to Newcastle for the Coast And Castles challenge.

They depart on July 12 from Edinburgh and will travel through Northumberland to arrive in Newcastle on Sunday.

Last year, the team faced gale-force winds and torrential rain while completing a Coast To Coast route from Whitehaven, in Cumbria, to Sunderland, when they raised £3,000 for Willowburn Hospice, in Lanchester, County Durham.

Graham Gowland, head of building services at Derwentside Homes, said: "Last year was a huge achievement for the team and we raised a lot of money for the Willowburn Hospice.

"We were faced with many challenges along the way including cycling through the tail-end of hurricane Katia, which saw winds of 80 mph and one member of the team broke his shoulder in Winlatter Forest. I am hoping this year will run a bit smoother. Our aim is to raise lots of money for this worthy cause."

To sponsor the team, visit http://www.justgiving.com/derwentsidecoastandcastles or call Graham on 01207 524226.

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