Truckers in final leg of charity cycle tour

The final leg of the FTA Transaid Cycle Challenge 2011, organised by the Freight Transport Association, will take place on Wednesday 22 June, clocking up 52 miles as it travels from St Paul’s in London, passing through Dulwich, West Wickham, Oxted, Edenbridge and Groombridge to Tunbridge Wells. The 13-day cycle ride around the UK has been organised to raise vital funds and awareness for international UK development charity Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Project, which is helping to save lives on Africa’s roads.

The Challenge, starting and finishing at the FTA headquarters in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and travelling through England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, will have covered a total of around 700 miles in two weeks, averaging around 50 miles a day. The marathon challenge is being led by FTA’s President Stewart Oades, accompanied through each FTA region by a local team.

Stewart Oades said:
"With a transport industry as professional and well-regulated as ours here in the UK, and roads which are generally of a good standard, it is difficult to appreciate how hazardous road transport can be in other parts of the world. The whole FTA team is enjoying this challenge and the opportunity to raise funds for Transaid’s important, life-saving work."