Students at Arden College in Southport, are gearing up for the challenge of a 75-mile cycle ride in aid of charity.
The group, which includes Adam Wearing and Hamish McFarlane, both aged 22, and 25-year-old Michael Clague, are taking part in the Bucket and Spade ride from Southport to Blackpool and back. Their fund-raising efforts, which begin at 7.30am on Saturday June 14, are in aid of several charities including a soup kitchen, Green Pasture Housing, which helps homeless people, and Cancer Research.
The students will be accompanied by Steve van der Merwe, Residential Home Manager at Arden College and support workers Jossy Sitoe, Shereen Sinjab, Augustin Micu and Sorin Musat. The staff and students have been training hard during the last few months to raise their fitness levels and have been using static bikes at a gym three times a week and going on ten mile long rides.
Steve van der Merwe said: “We encourage our students to get involved with local initiatives including schemes that raise money for good causes.
“The charity cycle ride also illustrates how the college, its students, staff and the wider Priory Group are keen to give something back to the communities in which they are based."
Adam said: “It will be a challenge but I`m looking forward to it.”
Hamish said: “I enjoyed the ride last year and I`m looking forward to doing it again and having fish and chips for lunch at Blackpool.”
Michael, who uses sign language and his mobile phone to communicate, said that he thought taking part in the ride will be a ‘fantastic’ experience
Arden College is a co-educational specialist residential college that provides specialist support and care for young people aged 16 to 25 with learning difficulties, including communication difficulties and/or behavioural support needs.
For more details on Priory Education and Children's Services, please call 0118 970 8068 or click here to make an enquiry.