Alan on his bike for The Royal British Legion
Following his successful charity bike ride from London to Paris last year, Alan Tideswell is mounting the saddle again to cycle from London to Ypres to raise money for the Royal British Legion in June.
Alan, owner of L D & A Tideswell & Son in Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire, has been involved in his local branch of the Legion for the past 10 years. He previously served in the Royal Navy for 16 years.
As the branch’s Standard Bearer, Alan has been busy over recent years supporting the organisation’s fundraising and ceremonial duties to enable the charity to provide financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants.
Alan said: “I was never a real keen cyclist but two years ago some of us at the Legion decided to raise money by joining the 460km London to Paris charity cycle ride. So I bought a bike, started training and I really enjoyed it. I did find the trip very enjoyable and exhilarating: I raised £2,000, and lost three stone during the training.
“That’s why I decided to do something different this year and ride to Ypres, in Belgium. I was there last year to celebrate the Great Pilgrimage – The Royal British Legion’s first ‘pilgrimage’ was in 1928 to the battlefields when the Prince of Wales took a large group of families to visit the war graves of their loved ones.”
Alan has received sponsorship again from coffin supplier Steve Soult Ltd and Wilcox Limousines, and hopes to raise another £2,000 for the charity.
He has been out at the weekends notching up 30-50 miles to get in shape for the 400km, four-day cycling journey, which will start from Greenwich Park in London and travel to France, via Dover-Calais, passing through the historic Somme region of France. The trip will finish at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres.
To support Alan, visit JustGiving.
Tags: Alan Tideswell, charity, Cycling, fundraising, funeral director, The Royal British Legion