Six Heathrow Airport service team leaders from Terminal 5 have started on a gruelling challenge to cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End on behalf of the airport's charity of the year, Help for Heroes.
Team members Mark Adkins, Shaun Sylvestre, Anand Sharma, Graham Carter, Jaz Gill and Gobinder Dhesi will climb the three highest mountains in the UK, a total ascent of 3,407 meters, as well as cycling 874 miles the length of the country. They hope to be back by July 22.
The Heathrow Commuter team, who run BAA Heathrow's Cycle2Work scheme, have sponsored the group with six professional cycling outfits. The Cycle2Work scheme is a government initiative to get employees cycling to work and eligible Heathrow staff will be entitled to tax-free benefits to encourage them to get a bike if they sign up before August 31.
Theo Panayi, Heathrow's Transport Strategy Manager said " We are keen to encourage more staff to cycle to work and are rooting for the team to complete this challenge as an inspiration to others, whilst raising money for Help for Heroes at the same time."
Team member Mark Adkins will keep staff back at Heathrow updated on their trip. To follow their journey regular updates can be viewed by searching for Heathrow Commuter online.
Support the team by visiting justgiving.com/fantastic6
BAA Heathrow staff who want to take part in the Cycle2Work scheme can find out more information at halfordsc2w.co.uk, using the username HALuser and password HALbenefit. Or, call 08450 77 88 50. The scheme is open for sign ups between June 1 and August 31 2010.
