Shortly after 04:00 on Saturday the 6th of July 2024 W.Bro Gary Calder accompanied by Bro Michael Saxby set off from Allonby on the west coast in Cumbria to cycle to Saltburn on the east coast in Cleveland. A distance of over 130 miles.
The challenge was to complete the ride in one day, whilst raising funds for Festival29 and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The cyclists supported by W.Bro Dave Sanders and Bro Mark Ellams had the benefit of good weather for most of the route, until shortly before arriving in Saltburn, when the heavens opened to wash the grime and road dirt from the cyclists and their cycles, and so were able to make good time arriving at their destination in just over 12 hours.
On arriving in at Saltburn Masonic Hall they were greeted by the APGM W.Bro Martin Eggermont and W.Bro David Wood, Vice Chair of the Festival29 Committee who congratulated them on their efforts in raising over £600 for Festival29 and £1000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Together with their coast to coast groupies of family and friends, who were all eager to get out of the rain, with one of the younger members, (Sophie) keen to sample the wares of a local chip shop.
This ride would not have been possible without the help of W.Bro Garyth Orton, from the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland who not only arranged for the group to stay on the Friday Night in Workington Masonic Hall but also arranged a special delivery of Pasta on the evening to set the group up for the following day.
Having left the hall after 11pm on the Friday he was back at 03:20 to escort the riders to their start point and see them set off.
A great example of two provinces who are both currently in Festival, working to support each other for the good of our own Masonic Charitable Foundation.
And it is to be hoped that this newly forged link between our respective provinces will continue in the future.
Thanks to all who sponsored this event and both Gary and Michael hope that this will inspire many of our Provinces to arrange their own fundraising events of whatever size or type to support Festival29 moving forward.
