From 29 June to 1 July, a group of staff, students and supporters from Hartpury University and Hartpury College are taking on an ambitious cycling challenge to raise funds for a small but powerful Gloucestershire charity, Goals Beyond Grass.

The challenge will see the team cycle from St Davids, the most westerly point in Wales, back to Hartpury campus, covering an epic 270 kilometres over three days. It is not a race, but a serious physical and mental test, designed to push comfort zones and bring people together around a shared purpose.

• Day 1: St Davids to Carmarthen

• Day 2: Carmarthen to Abergavenny

• Day 3: Abergavenny to Hartpury University and Hartpury College

Some members of the team will complete the full three‑day route, while others will join for the final day, ensuring everyone can contribute in a way that suits their ability.

Goals Beyond Grass (GBG) is a Gloucestershire‑based charity founded in 2016 that works with disabled children and adults to reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing through inclusive sport and physical activity. Their philosophy is simple but powerful: sport should be for everyone, with no barriers and no one turned away.

What began with powerchair football has grown into a wide range of inclusive sports and community programmes. GBG focuses not only on physical activity, but on confidence, connection and belonging, creating safe, welcoming environments where people can form friendships and feel part of something bigger.

As a small, local charity, every pound raised makes a tangible difference. Donations help GBG deliver daily sessions, purchase accessible equipment, train staff and volunteers, and reach more people who are often excluded from traditional sport and social activity. Crucially, GBG’s work supports both physical and mental wellbeing, helping participants build confidence, independence and community.

How You Can Help

£10 could buy specialist foot straps, helping cyclists keep their feet safely on the pedals

£20 could fund a seatbelt or harness, providing extra support and stability for cyclists who need it

£45 could provide a helmet, keeping cyclists safe during inclusive cycling sessions

£60 could fund a full cycling session at Belmont School, supporting up to 30 cyclists

£120 could cover a Forest of Dean cycling session, enabling up to 16 cyclists to complete a 15km route

£150 could pay for a session at Blackbridge Athletics Track, supporting up to 100 cyclists

£630 could fund a full week of inclusive cycling sessions, helping dozens of people stay active, connected and confident

Bigger donations help provide and maintain the specialist equipment that makes inclusive cycling possible:

£3,000 could fund a new single‑person trike, adaptable for a wide range of users

£4,500 could fund a two‑person side‑by‑side bike, allowing people to cycle together