Butchers on Bikes

- Published: 20 March, 2009

An intrepid team of amateur cyclists from the meat sector, including MTJ's Ed Bedington, will be hitting the road this June in a bid to raise money for charity.

The would-be Lance Armstrongs will be making the trip from Smithfield Market in London to Rungis Market in Paris in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for four different charities. The 'Butchers on Bikes' team, made up of more than 20 people, including the great and not-so-great of the meat industry, are hard at work training in preparation for the trip, which gets under way on 5 June. The team will be raising money for the Butchers' and Drovers' Charitable Institution (BDCI), Breast Cancer Research, the Worshipful Company of Butchers (WCB) Charities and the National Farmers' Union's Africa 100 appeal.

The cyclists will set off from Smithfield Market in London on Friday 5 June and cycle to Newhaven, where they will board the cross-Channel ferry. They will then cycle from Dieppe across France arriving at Rungis Market in Paris on Monday 8 June. Rungis is claimed to be the biggest food market in the world.

A support van manned by, among others, the WCB Clerk Tony Morrow and the BDCI President Richard Cracknell, will follow the riders' progress. WCB Master Brian Wheatley said: "This fantastic bicycle ride really does underline not only the camaraderie that exists among the meat and farming trades but also the great lengths - in this case 186 miles - that both industries will go to raise money for so many good causes. I sincerely hope that all liverymen will donate to 'Butchers on Bikes' and that a good number will be at Smithfield Market on 5 June to wave them off. I'll certainly be there."

Liverymen and companies or individuals wishing to contribute to 'Butchers on Bikes' can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/butchers-on-bikes

The Cyclists:

Stuart Roberts

Philip Hambling

Ed Bedington

Rob Smith

Fred A'Court

John Mercer

Terry Jones

Kevin Pearce

Jeremy Blackburn

Richard McDonald