BBC Suffolk staff are getting on their bikes for their own 'Tour De Suffolk' a 131 mile charity cycle ride raising money for BBC Suffolk's '8 days a week' appeal for Suffolk Family Carers.

The route will start at BBC Radio Suffolk and stop off at all five of the Ryman League football clubs in our county, plus Hadleigh United, of the Thurlow Nunn Premier division, and the Suffolk FA HQ along the way, before finishing at Crown Meadow, home of Lowestoft Town football club.

It was the idea of sports reporter Ali Stafford and he soon persuaded Isaac Chenery to join him in the epic challenge.
The two have already set out on training rides, including a very tough trip to Felixstowe on a cold Saturday morning. Isaac Chenery, who works on a number of shows across the station, said it was this ride that made the two realise just how tough the challenge is going to be. ‘No matter which way we went there seemed to be a hill to climb. It doesn’t help that neither of us have the worlds greatest bikes, but one way or another, we will complete this massive challenge.’
Others at BBC Radio Suffolk to have accepted the challenge include managing editor Peter Cook, Sports producer Graeme Mac, News editor Kate Arkell and Presenters Georgina Wroe and Jon Wright.
Ali Stafford says what started out as a simple idea has grown. ‘There’s no backing out now, at first everyone called us mad for coming up with this challenge, but we’ve managed to convince others to join in and keep us company on the long journey around Suffolk.’
The route will be longer than any stage of the Tour of Britain and one of the longest on the Tour De France.

All money raised will be going straight to the 8 days a week appeal. You can sponsor our cyclists by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/bbcsuffolkcycle.

The cyclists are expected to arrive between 7:30-8pm on Wednesday night, when the Lowestoft Youth team are at home to Holt United.

Terry Bullen