We arrived in Ypres late afternoon on 18th July to a very welcome glass of champagne to celebrate 195 miles/312 km of cycling and the raising of over £80k for the Mines Advisory Group.
The First World War still hangs very heavily over the Somme Valley and West Flanders; not just because of the monuments at places such as Thiepval and Vimy Ridge but also because people continue to be killed or maimed in Belgium and northern France by First (and Second) World War munitions. After almost a hundred years, two of the most developed countries in the world continue to suffer from the after effects of conflict. What hope is there for places like Angola, Congo or Lao PDR, without the help of MAG? Governments do not contribute for fear of an apparent loss of neutrality.
The event took some 84 hours, during which some 168 people's lives will have been lost or their bodies maimed by mines. Every penny you contribute now will help to clear mines and improve the lives of those who live in conflict zones.



