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Advance-TRS to cycle Tour de Yorkshire for Railway Children

3rd June 2014

It has been little over 8 months since Andy Ridout, Managing Director of Advance Training & Recruitment Services, undertook one of the most challenging trials known to athletes worldwide, the Ironman Triathlon. Back in September of 2013, Ridout endured a 2.4 mile swim through icy freshwater, a testing 110-mile cycle, followed by an agonising marathon across the strenuous Dartmoor terrain; it was a challenge that tested his endurance, courage and determination to the very limit.

His efforts weren’t without recognition however, as Andy rallied supporters from across the rail industry and beyond to raise a substantial total of £12,777, an amount that eclipsed his original target of £10,000. Presenting his final fundraising total with a cheque at the Dinner at the Derby Roundhouse, Andy joined hundreds from within the Rail industry in raising in excess of £85,000 for Railway Children.

Not to be one to rest on his laurels, Ridout is back once again and this time he’s joined by Operations Director, Paul Merton as they begin their vigorous training to compete in the Tour de Yorkshire, a road by road recreation of the first stage of the Tour de France, aptly named ‘Le Grande Départ’. The Tour de Yorkshire, organised in association with Railway Children, is a 120-mile route starting in Ilkley, circling up and through the breath-taking Yorkshire dales before finishing back in Ilkley, having endured a tortuous 9,294ft ascent.

The daring duo hope to raise more than £1,000 for Railway Children, the international children’s charity aimed at helping children that are forced to live out on the streets. In the UK alone, a child runs away from home every 5 minutes, forced to flee as a result of abject poverty, violence and neglect. The money generously raised by those in the rail industry has gone towards staffing teams that seek to help children on the streets, providing survival kits, as well as sending health volunteers with medicine and first aid equipment to India’s most exploited regions.

“Presenting a cheque for £12,777 to Railway Children at the Derby Roundhouse last year was one of my proudest moments” says Ridout, “So much work had gone into training as well as fundraising in the months leading up to the event and to be able to say that we smashed that £10,000 target was a real honour. Now the hard work starts all over again, make no mistake, the Tour de Yorkshire will be no easy feat but it is one that we are thoroughly relishing.”

You can find more information about Railway Children and the Tour de Yorkshire and donate to help homeless children by visiting http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/advanceTRS