Sodexo magnificent seven pedal to Paris for charity

A group of seven Sodexo employees recently cycled from London to Paris, raising almost £10,000 for the Royal British Legion and STOP Hunger.

The team, made up of Chris Bray, Andy Rogers, Phil Carter, Steve Groves, Gareth Roulston, Peter Scargill and Alan Staples, all from the Sodexo Defence business, started early on Friday 21 September from the UK and Ireland headquarters in London, cycling their way through the English countryside to rural France, via Saint-Omer, at an impressive pace of 13 miles per hour.

On route, the team stopped at the Royal British Legion village in Aylesford and the British war graves in Amityville, France, paying their respects, before pedalling on to the heart of Paris, finishing at Sodexo Group’s global headquarters in Paris on Sunday 23 September, having ridden an impressive total of 350 miles.

The team were cheered on throughout their journey by a dedicated support team, and almost £1,000 was contributed to their over all amount raised by the Sodexo team in the Falkland Islands, who cycled the equivalent distance in the gym. The money raised will be donated to both the Royal British Legion and Sodexo’s campaign to tackle hunger and poor nutrition in local communities, STOP Hunger.

Of the gruelling challenge, organisational development change director and cyclist Andy Rogers, said: “It was a fantastic experience and very well organised. A couple of the riders fell off but instantly got back on; the comradery amongst the group was second to none.

“Visiting the graves was a very poignant and humbling experience and with 50% of the team being from military backgrounds, a very close to home moment for us. I think I speak for everyone when I say we would do it again.”

Chris Bray, divisional director, Sodexo Defence, said: "I am very proud of the team for having achieved both the cycle ride and having raised such a vast amount of money for two charities. It was a big team effort, which included the unwavering support of a behind the scenes crew, who helped and encouraged us along the way."

Donations are still welcome and can be made at the team’s charity page.