Ilkley's Simon Thomas and friend Darren Hirst have completed their 130-mile cycling challenge from Sheffield to the Lake District via Haworth and Skipton.
Darren, a director of Julius Baer Bank in Leeds and Simon, director of Otley-based Greenholme Carpets battled snow, hail, rain and driving winds to complete the challenge raising money for The Principle Trust Children’s Charity which provides free respite holidays to children who are underprivileged, disadvantaged, disabled, have life-limiting conditions, or who have experienced poverty, trauma or abuse.
With donations still coming in, the riders are on course to reach their target of £3,000, which will provide free holidays for seven Yorkshire families.
Simon and Darren left Sheffield City Hall at 10am on Thursday (31st March), heading to Stockbridge, New Mill and Huddersfield. From there, they rode through Halifax, Brighouse and over the gruelling cobbles of Haworth Main Street before arriving in Skipton at the end of Day 1.
On Friday (1st April) the riders left Skipton, cycling along the western edge of The Yorkshire Dales National Park to Gargrave and Ingleton, crossing the North Yorkshire border into Cumbria before arriving at White Cross Bay on the banks of Lake Windermere, where some of the charity’s holiday lodges are based.
Simon, 61, who is a trustee of the charity, said, “The Principle Trust supports families across Yorkshire, so our aim was to traverse the entire county, from the South to the North. Every penny we raised will help The Trust to support families from the Yorkshire region.”
Donations can be made at www.localgiving.org/fundraising/miles-for-smiles/