Gruelling bike ride across Cuba for charity

STAFF at a Westbury security services company, PROSEC Consultancy, have set themselves the gruelling challenge of mountain biking 420km across Cuba for charity. 

Three men from PROSEC and a close friend will spend five days in the heat and humidity of Cuba, mountain biking over tough terrain to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Devon Air Ambulance and the children’s charity ‘Make Some Noise’.

Andy Lister, director at PROSEC said, “I wanted to do something really challenging that would push me to the edge. We are all complete novices when it comes to cycling, but decided 18 months ago to get a bike and give it go.

“We are all ex-forces and since leaving the army have put on a few pounds, so we’ve been training hard to get into shape.”

The arduous challenge starts with a 62km ride from Havana to Matanzas City, then the next day  a 87km ride to San Jose de Marcos. Then a lengthy ride of 103km from Hotel Rancho Luna to Playa Ancon, then 82km from Playa Ancon to Santa Spiritus and then finally on the last day a 87km journey from Santa Spiritus to Santa Clara.

“We know that it’s not going to be easy, we are completely expecting it to be seriously tough. This is not going to be a jolly boys holiday. Getting on and off the bike having cycled for miles and miles is going to be difficult, but we have the motivation of raising money for charity to keep us going. Plus, being ex-army there’s always a bit of banter flying around, which I’m sure will help move us along!

“The challenge is completely self funded and we have paid for all the expenses, so every penny raised will go to the charities.

“We’re taking part in the  London to Brighton Off-Road Bike Ride on 26th September as a warm up. It’s 75 miles which is a third of what we will be doing in Cuba, but it’s a chance for us to get focused before the big challenge.

“Obviously it’s going to be tough but we’re looking forward to it. We would love to raise £2,000 because the charities do such a fantastic job and need the support.”

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