And they’re off…Charity cyclists set off to Bordeaux

Members of The Furniture Makers’ Company yesterday set off on a gruelling six day, 450 mile cycle ride to Bordeaux with the aim of raising £50,000 for the industry’s charity.

Friends and family of the 22 London to Bordeaux cyclists were joined by Sheriff of London Dr Christine Rigden and Alderman Michael Mainelli for a bon voyage breakfast at Guildhall, London before the team’s departure at 8.00am.

Stopping to sample some fine French cuisine and wine along the way, the peloton will cycle to Portsmouth and then get a ferry across to St Malo so they can ride through French cities including Nantes, La Rochelle and Royan, before reaching Bordeaux on Friday 16 September.

The fundraiser has been organised by Ben Burbidge, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company and has so far raised £45,000, which includes £10,000 from a team cycling jersey.

Master Ben Burbidge said: “This is a very challenging bike ride, but it is for a great cause and one which is very close to all our hearts. I’d like to thank Sheriff Christine Rigden and Alderman Michael Mainelli for joining us for our bon voyage breakfast at Guildhall. The team have been training for months and we’re very excited for the off. The support we’ve received has been overwhelming and we would like to thank everyone who has sponsored us.”

Dr Christine Rigden, Sheriff of London, said: “I am absolutely delighted to support The Furniture Makers’ Company and this splendid fundraising venture. Their support of excellence and training within their industry exemplifies the extraordinary, and largely unsung, work of the Livery.  I wish all participants an excellent trip, and look forward to hearing from the successful team on arrival in Bordeaux.”

The companies that have sponsored the team cycling jersey are Axminster Tools & Machinery, B&Q, Blum, the British Furniture Manufacturers’ Association, Burbidge Kitchens, CD UK, Cabinet Maker, Celtheath Contract Furniture, Designer Contracts, Ercol, Furniture Village, KI, Knoll, Lectra, Rotadex, Silentnight and Tangent Furniture.

For more information on how to sponsor the team, please visit www.justgiving.com/teams/TFMCLtoB.

The full list of participants is:

• Ben Burbidge, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company/ Burbidge Kitchens
• Hayden Davies, Junior Warden of The Furniture Makers’ Company
• Brian Ahern
• Michael Ahern
• Lee Andrews, KI
• Tony Attard OBE, Panaz
• Peter Checketts, RHG Insurance Brokers
• Jonathan Hindle, KI
• Peter Hooper
• John Irwin, Tangent Furniture
• Amanda Johnson
• Nigel Johnson
• Stewart Linford
• Graham Marley
• Simon Power-Hynes, KI
• Andrew Purves, Purves & Purves
• Ian Peers, Ercol
• Nicholas Radford, Nathan Furniture
• Edward Tadros, Ercol
• Henry Tadros, Ercol
• Paul von der Heyde
• William White, Rotadex