Two wheels across Europe (From Messenger Newspapers)

Two wheels across Europe

7:14pm Thursday 26th July 2012 in News

A LEADING Hale-based businessman and his close friend are set to cycle 1,000 miles across Europe, raising money for a local breast cancer charity.

Darren Maunders, 38, managing director and founding partner of Jackson Maunders estate agents, is riding from Barcelona to Manchester in aid of Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention – the Wythenshawe based breast cancer charity.

Darren is being joined on the challenging route by close friend and fellow cyclist Nick Provan, 55. They are aiming to cycle between 80 and 100 miles every day, spending about eight hours in the saddle.

The ride will see Darren and Nick cycling from Barcelona, up and over the Pyrenees and through France, before catching a ferry to Portsmouth and then riding up through the Cotswolds to Manchester and home.

Father of two, Darren said: “This is the cycling trip of a lifetime and it has been in the making for some time. I can’t wait to get over there and start getting the miles in. It’s going to be very hot and there’s some tough riding involved.

“Once we get used to the heat, we hit the Pyrenees, which are going to be a real test of endurance. There are some serious hills to get up, and the bikes are also loaded up with all our kit, but we are both up for it and raring to get going.

“When we have crossed the mountains we’ll be travelling up the West coast of France. It will be very tempting to sample some of the local wines, but we will have to take it easy if we are hoping to get our daily miles in.”

The pair set off on July 30, flying to Barcelona and then reassembling their bikes before beginning the epic ride home, camping all the way.

Nick, a photographer from Bickerton Road, Altrincham, said: “It’s certainly going to be a challenge. I used to be a keen cyclist, but I haven’t done any serious riding for the best part of 35 years.

“I actually set out to cycle to India when I was younger and got as far as Tehran, but that was a long time ago. It’s going to be tough, but it’s also going to be great fun, and we are raising money for a good cause – so all the aches and pains will be worth it.” The pair are riding to raise cash for Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention, the U.K’s only charity dedicated entirely to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer.

Currently, one in 10 women and one in 1,000 men will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Through the funding of vital medical research, Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention aims to make one in 10, none in 10.

To find out more please go online at http://www.justgiving.com/darrenandnick