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Paul Jennings cycles LeJog

By 27th May 2013July 27th, 2023No Comments
News

A cycle ride from one end of Britain to the other by a Member of the Guild, Paul Jennings, will raise money for the Farm Africa charity.

Paul, a keen cyclist and client director at Shropshire-based agricultural PR agency ABC, will tackle the 1000 mile route from Land’s End to John O’Groats – known as LeJog – over 11 days in August. Covering an average of more than 90 miles per day, he hopes to raise more than £1000 for Farm Africa.

“As someone who grew up on a dairy farm and who makes his living from agriculture, I thought it would be nice to put something back into farming,” says Paul. “Riding LeJog has been a burning ambition of mine for a number of years, and I’m relishing the challenge of testing my endurance and raising money for my chosen charity.”

Farm Africa has a very simple belief; that Africa has the power to feed itself. The charity works directly with farmers to help them unleash their potential to feed Africa’s people.

The charity organisation also pioneers techniques that boost harvests, reduce poverty, sustain natural resources and help end Africa’s need for aid.

Paul will be cycling with three other members of the Chorlton Belters Veloclub and the team’s support vehicle will be driven by his wife, Lucy.

“I’ll spend my 40th birthday in the saddle and Lucy and I will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary on the road,” Paul adds. “Hopefully there’ll be time for a couple of celebratory beers en route, but the main aim is to raise as much money as possible. I’ve set an initial target of £1000 but I hope we can exceed that by quite a considerable margin.”

To support Paul’s LeJog ride visit his JustGiving web page.

Farm Africa is also raising funds through the Thames Path Challenge on September 14/15 this year. Participants walk, jog or run amongst the beautiful scenery of the Thames Path National Trail, entering different categories from an endurance walk to an ultra-marathon run.

Starting in Putney, there are a number of 50km routes in the day or night time and a 100km option, all heading west from the urban jungle of London through historic and picturesque towns in southern England.

To walk or run the Thames Path Challenge for Farm Africa, entrants pay a £60 (50km) or £85 (100km) registration fee and commit to a fundraising target of £275 (50km) or £400 (100km).

Members or Friends of the Guild who take part could share any funds raised above those targets with the Guild’s Charitable Trust.

“The Charitable Trust is very much a part of the Guild; it was established to help and support Members, as well as their families, when facing financial, health or other difficulties,” says Guild chairman Jane Craigie. “The demands placed on its funds – the interest accrued from capital invested – have increased in recent years and it would be great if we could all think of the Trust when it comes to charitable donations or fund-raising activities.”