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Thatcham to Paris cycle ride to remember Tom





Seventeen-year-old Tom Slater, of Benham Hill, died last year on the A339 between the Robin Hood and Vodafone roundabouts when his blue Yamaha motorcycle was in collision with a car.
A charity fund was set up to provide an area of leisure facilities, activities and opportunities for youngsters and the first big fundraising event was the cycle ride.
The fundraisers hope to raise £25,000 to build a new bike track and seating area at Henwick Worthy Sports Ground to replace the old single ramp.
A big gathering waved off the 29-strong team of friends and family members from Tom’s memorial bench in Henwick field on Sunday (19) - exactly a year to the day he died.
And they arrived, tired and saddle sore, at the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday evening some 232 miles later.


Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News from Paris after completing the challenge, Tom's dad Paul Slater, said that the challenge had been difficult, even though the group had been training since December.
He said: "Monday it rained all day and it was freezing - that was quite demoralising and we were exhausted.
"We expected France to be flatter than it was; all the hills were massive and they just seemed to get longer and longer.
"We are chuffed to bits; it was an amazing feat and it as a long way to go.
It was a good tribute to Tom."
Mr Slater added: "I'm sure Tom would have been proud of us.
"I'm sure he is looking down on us and smiling."
The group has so far raised more than £18,500 for the project and hopes to raise about £25,000 to complete it.
To sponsor the group visit www.findmeagrant.org/wberks and search TSF Thomas Slater Fund.



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