Gusto Construction get set for coast-to-coast bike ride in aid of diabetes charity
Workers at a local construction company are cycling from coast-to-coast for a diabetes charity, writes Benjamin Lynch.
Collingham-based Gusto Construction has put together a cycling team to raise money through a sponsored charity ride.
It is in aid of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as one of the of the firms employees' son suffers with the disease.
The team hopes to raise a total of £4,200 for the charity and are already close to their target, having raised roughly £4,100 already.
The bike ride will start in Whitehaven in the Lake District and make its 130 mile journey to Northumberland's Whitley Bay.
Organisation of the event has come through site manager Sam Smith, who learnt about the disease by seeing its effects on his colleagues son.
"At a family fun day for everyone at work we noticed that his young lad could not do all the activities he wanted to do. He is only nine or ten," said Mr Smith.
"I just asked the lads if they wanted to do something for it and someone suggested a coast-to-coast bike ride. It was as easy as that."
Mr Smith is pleased with the reaction from people so far and thankful to local business Newark Cycles, which has provided a free bike service for the ride.
He said: "It was really great of them to do that, we have a tough climb ahead. We are hoping to do 77 miles on the first day and there is a bout 6,500 feet worth of climbing that day."
Team member and Gusto Construction company buyer Jason Cole is also looking forward to taking part.
"There is a great team spirit among us. We have riders of all different levels and I have been training for four to five months for this," said Mr Cole.
Despite the positive attitude, the team will still face a challenging ride.
He said: "I'm not too worried about the distance, it's the total of 10,000ft of climbing on the way."
There is a total of 14 employees taking part from Friday to Sunday.
You can view their JustGiving page here.
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