Nigel Petrie, chairman of Dedicated Micros’ (DM) parent
company, AD Group based in Warrington, England, recently
completed a nine-day bike ride with riding partner Peter
Vince, a solicitor based in Forest Row, Sussex. The purpose
of their 500+ mile ride was to raise money for three
electric wheelchairs for veterans from conflicts ranging
from World War II to the Gulf War.
The riders started in Switzerland and the journey led them to the Belgium coast through the Vosges Mountains and the battlefields of Verdun—the Somme and Flanders. This World War I route along the Western Front featured an almost continuous line of trenches and barbed-wire defenses.
The cyclists met their own costs and rode without a back-up driver or support. The trip took them through areas where there were strong winds and rain. There was one particular steep section in the Vosges Mountains where they climbed 3,346 feet in just under five miles.
Through the invaluable help and support of the Royal British Legion, the duo hopes their journey will raise awareness of “the Line.” More importantly, DM’s distinguished riders will collect the full 12,000 British pounds ($22,320 U.S.D) under the wheels4freedom project.
Wheels4freedom follows on from Nigel and Peter’s previous fundraising efforts of cycling more than 8,000 miles and raising an impressive 80,000 British pounds ($148,804 U.S.D) for charity. To find out more about this event, visit www.biking4charity.org.uk.
