Date: Monday June 3, 2019 at 11:50am
BAE Systems Group Managing Director Maritime and Land UK,
Andrew Wolstenholme, said:
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) and BAE Systems have
launched the ‘Heroes Challenge 2019’, an extraordinary cycling adventure to
honour the memory of the heroes of the D-Day landings.
Beginning on 18th
September 2019, the Heroes Challenge will set off from London and will then conclude
five days later in the iconic city of Paris. The challenge will raise money for
the RNRMC while honouring the heroes of D-Day during the 75th
anniversary of the landings.
Passing through English
Countryside, the cycle will cross the Channel at Portsmouth and continue
through small villages and medieval market towns in Northern France while
making time to take in some of the Normandy landing beaches.
The trip will feature a ride to Juno,
the Gold beaches and a visit to the historic Pegasus Bridge where the first
house to be liberated from the Germans in June 1944 still stands.
After long days in the saddle and
some arduous hill-climbs, the Heroes Cycle Challenge 2019 will draw to a close
under the famous Eiffel Tower. Following successful completion of the cycle, riders
and their crews will be invited to a prize giving and celebration meal at the British
Ambassador’s residence in Paris.
The RNRMC and BAE Systems are inviting keen cyclists
to sign up for the Heroes Challenge, which will bring together service
personnel, members of military families, employees, partners, suppliers and
supporters. Anyone can sign up for the event, which is priced at £140 with a
fundraising target of £1,600 set for each individual. All money raised will be
donated to the RNRMC – the national charity of the Royal Navy.
For over ten years, the RNRMC has
distributed millions of pounds to help ensure that sailors, marines and their
families remain supported, for life. BAE Systems is a Platinum Partner of the
RNRMC and one of the Charity’s longest standing supporters.
Chief Executive at the RNRMC, Adrian Bell, said:
“The Heroes Cycle Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to not only take
part in a great adventure but to raise money for an incredibly important cause
while honouring the memory of the heroes of D-Day.
“This cycle challenge event is the first of its kind for the RNRMC and we’re
expecting a lot of interest in a challenge of this nature. All the money raised
will go back to the RNRMC, who in turn will use the money to ensure that
sailors, marines, veterans and their families are given the very best support.”
BAE Systems Group Managing Director Maritime and Land UK,
Andrew Wolstenholme, said:
“At BAE Systems we are proud
to invest in the communities in which we operate, not least the military
communities with whom we work most closely. Our partnership with the RNRMC is
longstanding and we are excited to launch our joint fundraiser for 2019.”
“The Heroes Challenge will
provide a great opportunity to bring together colleagues, partners and
customers from across the naval community in support of the RNRMC.”
To find out how to take part, visit https://www.rnrmc.org.uk/heroes
Route Itinerary:
-
Day 1: London –
Portsmouth – Caen
-
Day 2: Caen – Lisieux
(featuring a ride to Juno Beach, Gold Beach and Pegasus Bridge)
- Day 3: Lisieux –
Evreux
- Day 4: Evreux – Paris
-
Day 5: Paris – London