Colleagues cycle from Newbury to Paris for British Heart Foundation

Four colleagues have cycled from Newbury to Paris to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Ball Hill man Jason Douglass had a heart attack in May last year and wanted to give something back.

So he and three colleagues – Simon Mclntyre from Thatcham, Adrian Hutchinson from The Beeches and Nick Seymour from Wash Common – arrived in Paris on October 14 after a 240-mile bike ride.

Mr Douglass said it was thanks to the care and attention of the NHS he was able to take on this challenge.

The three day ride has raised £3,357 so far.

An online fundraiser is still running at https://www.justgiving.com/page/newbury-paris-cycle-challenge

The route from Newbury led to Portsmouth, Caen and Evreux before arriving at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Mr Douglass said: “After recovering from a heart attack in mid-2022 I wanted to raise some money for the BHF [British Heart Foundation] to help fund research and support other people and their families.

“To cycle to Paris was an ambitious challenge, and it’s a great feeling to have achieved it.

“The weather was great and we had no bike malfunctions, so we were very lucky.

“But I was glad we didn’t have to cycle home.”

The team travelled back to the UK on October 15 by train and ferry, arriving in Newbury at 11pm.