Charity cyclists embark on the final leg of their epic 14-year challenge

Charity cyclists embark on the final leg of their epic 14-year challenge

24 August 2022

A team of hardy cyclists from the award-winning Sheffield property firm, Dransfield Properties Ltd, take on the last leg of their tough Tour of Europe challenge in September.

A total of 21 riders will take part in this year’s challenge which will see them embark on a gruelling ride covering 335 miles from The Tyne to The Thames – cycling from Newcastle to London where they’ll finish at Tower Bridge - their starting point 14 years ago. 

The team will start the challenge on Monday September 5th and finish on Friday September 9th in the capital. 

Since the first charity ride in 2007 from London to Paris the team have covered more than 4,800 miles across 14 countries and raised £546,000 for charity so far. 

This year they have set themselves the challenge to raise a further £54,000 to tip the grand total over the £600,000 mark. They are fundraising for Sheffield’s St Luke’s Hospice, Action Against Cancer and The Dransfield Foundation.

The annual ride was founded in 2007 by brothers Mark and Paul Dransfield. Mark is the founder and owner of Sheffield based Dransfield Properties Ltd and Paul owns PA Contracts which is based in Hull. They took on their first ride and just kept going – adding to the miles and the fundraising every year.

In the last 13 years the fundraising team has travelled all the way around Europe through Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Portofino, Rome, Dubrovnik, Trieste, Munich, Berlin, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stavanger and last year’s route which finished in Aberdeen.  

Their fundraising endeavours have helped support medical research and purchase vital healthcare equipment for Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Action Against Cancer and Bloodwise, as well as lots of smaller charities and local initiatives through the Dransfield Foundation.

One of the team’s biggest achievements was providing a new hydrotherapy pool and block at the Ryegate Centre in Sheffield transforming this facility for the local community with the riders also taking part in volunteer sessions to help complete the work. 

Mark Dransfield said: “We will be reflecting on all that has been achieved over the 14 years on our Tour of Europe. After so many rides across Europe it really does feel great to be back cycling in the UK and heading back to London, where it all began a decade and a half ago.

“We like to challenge ourselves with the route every year and this year we’ll be aiming to complete the Rapha route through our beautiful countryside, ensuring a stop off at our own Fox Valley Shopping Centre in Stocksbridge of course!

“I’d like to thank everyone who has continued to support our charity efforts over the years and promise them this will be our very last ask, so please dig deep to help us support people who are really struggling. Every penny raised goes directly to frontline support and all of the riders pay for their own accommodation and expenses, nothing comes from the money that is generously donated.”

The 2022 Bike Ride 

• Day 1, September 5th: NEWCASTLE TO ALDWARK (76.6 MILES / 123 KM)  

• Day 2, September 6th: ALDWARK TO WORTLEY (57.4 MILES / 92.5 KM)

• Day 3, September 7th: WORTLEY TO MARKET BOSWORTH (82 MILES / 132 KM)

• Day 4: September 8th: MARKET BOSWORTH TO LETCHWORTH (89.4 MILES / 144 KM)

• Day 5: September 9th: LETCHWORTH TO LONDON (45.5 MILES / 73 KM)

This year’s riders are: Mark Dransfield, Andrew Malley, Simon Bland, Mark Yardley, Alec Cammish, Tim Downing, Christian Cox, Paul Dransfield, Paul Sutherland, Nigel Bennett, Dean Draper, Pete Swift, Sir Gary Verity, Phillip Prince, Tom Meagher, Ian Etherington, Chris Green, James Taylor, Tom Reynolds, Olivier Carli and Lee Newsham.

The support team is Paul Anderson, John White and William Downing.

To keep up to date with the riders follow the Team Dransfield Facebook page or visit the website at www.dransfield.co.uk and to support their fundraising efforts go to Dransfield Foundation is fundraising for The Dransfield Foundation Tour of Europe (justgiving.com)

And to interview our riders before or during the ride contact Alison Shipperbottom on 07748111013 or alison.shipperbottom@dransfield.co.uk

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk