A GROUP of local business leaders have formed a cycling team to take part in a prestigious three-day event to raise money for meningitis awareness.
The six-strong squad have spent the last six months training for this weekend’s Prudential Ride-London-Surrey 100, a 100-mile bike ride following the route of the 2012 Olympics road race.
Calling themselves the Meningitis Mile Munchers, the team comprises Peter Cornwell, owner of The Beacon pub in Rusthall, Jane Drew of Nuffield Gym, James Richards of Maddisons Residential, Sarah Duncombe-Jones, a teacher at Weald of Kent Grammar School, Steve Bass, Managing Director of Bass Engineering, and Steve Clark, MD of Chilstone. They aim to raise £3,000 for Meningitis Now, a charity that researches the disease and supports families affected by it.
Around 3,200 people get bacterial meningitis each year in the UK, and for 10-15 per cent of people it proves fatal.
Approximately one in five live with permanent disabilities,such as brain damage, hearing loss, loss of kidney function or limb amputations.
Steve Clark first worked with the charity last year at the Chelsea Flower Show, where his company, Chilstone, designed and built a stone temple to honour those affected by meningitis.
He said: “It was a truly humbling experience meeting people that had survived the disease but also those who had lost children.
“So to carry on this work I have recruited some of my fitness friends. Recently we staged an awareness and fundraising day at Nuffield Gym while also attending a variety of classes with other members and also parents and their young families who were attending swimming and ballet classes.”
To support the team in the July 28-30 challenge, please visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Meningitismilemunchers
