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In September Rob Grant will be attempting the iconic UK cycling challenge of riding end to end. He will be taking part in the Deloitte Ride Across Britain, riding the 966 mile route from Land’s End to John O’Groats in only nine days. The route is far from flat with nearly 15,000 meters of climbing, almost twice the height of Everest.

Why?

“I have always had an interest in extreme physical challenges. I am unsure of the trigger for this; perhaps it was watching Scott of the Antarctic as a child, or reading about exploration but something sowed a seed in me early on. But it was not until five years ago that I was able to embark on one of these personal journeys myself when I was persuaded by my nephew to ride coast to coast west to east across the UK. This was a huge personal journey for someone who could not ride even 5 miles without taking a rest to completing the journey. Needless to say I was hooked: rides from London to Paris and tours of Normandy and Devon have followed.

“Last year someone told me about the Deloitte Ride Across Britain. Looking at the web site I saw the following: Nine days of cycling around 108 miles a day is tough. Very, very tough. It takes proper preparation, proper kit and mental fortitude. It’s a test of one’s inner grit. I signed up on the day registration opened and I have been training seriously since the start of the year.”

“There is of course a second part to the why, I have always been fascinated by Africa. In 2010 my wife and I first visited South Africa and we have been to the continent every year bar one since. In 2013 the opportunity arose through work to become involved with our Link School in South Africa, Sandi Senior Secondary School. Part of this link is the provision of the Sandi Bursary which allows a student who would not otherwise be able to, to complete a four year teaching degree at the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha. Our first Bursary student Phelisa graduated in 2013, our second Godlo has just graduated and we are currently supporting three other students with their studies, however this costs around £15,000 per year. All of this is raised by the Berkhamsted School Community”.

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