Thanks for taking the time to visit our 1000 Mile Bike Challenge JustGiving page.

A team from MK Dons are braving the elements and the 1000 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats in June to raise money for two very worthy charities, Help for Heroes (The Football League's charity of the season) and MK Dons Sport and Education Trust who will each receive 50% of the total raised on this page.

The team consists of Paul Mitchell, MK Dons Community Ambassador, Darren Oldroyd, Director of Football and Community in the SET, James Parkinson, MK Dons Head of Partnerships, John Lloyd, MK Dons Business Development Executive and Dave Pearson from Milton Keynes-based company Filmology.

 

Local bicycle manufacturer Trek are also supporting the challenge by donating the lads bikes, training equipment and all the Trek clothing they would ever need to get them through the challenge; the SET would also like to thank the following companies who have pledged their support so far;

Bike Challenge Partner's Trek Bikes Amway Wallace Cameron Marshall Cycle plus AYMTM Case Security Jim & Gwen Mann

Schueco

Corporate Bike Challenge Teams Bullerwell ROK Filmology Schueco Energie Fitness Dunstable Firestation Case Puratos RFE International Purcell Solicitors Wallace Cameron and Honda

Day Sponsors Day 1- Smart Moves Recruitment Day 2-GPF Brickwork & Scaffolding Ltd Day 3- Ruth and Mark Turner Day 4- Holistic Logistics (MK) Ltd Day 5- MK Dons First Team players and staff Day 6- DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes Day 7- Wallace Cameron Day 8- The Birch at Woburn Day 9- Keith and Claire Andrews Day 10- CRS

 

Mitch explains why he is taking on this momentous task “With th fact that the Football League nominated Help for Heroes as their charity of the season and made me personally (alongside MK Dons player Peter Leven) one of 12 Ambassadors for the charity within the league, we thought we should be doing our part in the Sport and Education Trust to promote these links and of course our own targets. The idea of a bike ride really does fit in with our promotion of health and fitness and with Trek’s support we will hopefully be able to continue to make a real impact on people’s lives in Milton Keynes and throughout the United Kingdom.”

 

Dave continues,"I was delighted to support these causes, the idea started as a personal challenge between myself and Darren before we realised it could be a really good way to make a positive impact in our community doing something we love"

 

James added, "All our supporters know what great work the Trust do in the community and as for Help for Heroes, that doesn't really need an explanation does it! Everyone understands the importance of this charity and that is demonstratedby the Football League nominating them as the 2009/10 Official Charity partner. I love my cycling and to be able to combine it with this effort for two worthwhile causes is worth the blood, sweat and (most probably) tears."

John continued, "The magnitude of what we have set out to do is massive and the realisation of that is getting bigger every day! Seven to eight hours a day in the saddle, every day for ten days covering around 1000 miles i do find myself asking why I agreed to do it!"

"Having spent my life in Milton Keynes and looking back as a teenager how I would have benefitted from the work of the Sport and Education Trust, there is a personal goal in taking part in the challenge. Not only will we be able to feel a sense of achievement, the kind you can chat about over a pint after a match 'Oh yeah I have run a marathon' or 'I blitzed three Peaks', but we will also have the feeling of actually making a difference in the lives of people in and around Milton Keynes."

 

Darren concludes "It's not every year a fantastic opportunity to make such a difference arises and we really do have to grab the bull (not Donny) by the horns and show what kind of an impact we can make in the Sport and Education Trust. It is also a personal challenge for me having recently undergone a hip replacment operation due to my playing days with Everton and Wolves"

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

 

The SET Team