A five-strong team from the Country Range Group (CRG) has completed a mammoth charity challenge in Vietnam after taking part in the ‘Bikes Against Bombs’ cycling ride for the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) charity.
The stellar team taking on the challenge was made up of CRG Chief Executive Martin Ward, CRG and Creed Foodservice Chairman Philip de Ternant, Henderson Foodservice Managing Director Cathal Geoghegan, Henderson Foodservice Commercial & Development Director Mark Stewart-Maunder and Savona Foodservice Director Kelly Williams.
Leaders from across the wholesale sector
The group, who were part of a contingent of 43 business leaders from across the wholesale and convenience retail sectors taking part in the challenge, began their journey on the 12th April and endured up to nine hours in the saddle each day whilst battling gruelling hills, dusty tracks and the harsh humid heat of South East Asia.
CRG’s fab five reached the finish line on the 18th April after cycling the 457-kilometre route over 3300m elevations and 45 degree heat from Hue to Hoi An, which featured parts of the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail as well as bustling towns and cities, remote rural areas and breath taking scenery.
Martin Ward said: “Whilst last year’s challenge was an eye-opener and incredibly inspiring, this year I learned so much more. On the second day we visited an active MAG clearance site where they located and destroyed a live bomb in front of us. In Vietnam alone MAG have cleared over 400,000 bombs in the last 25 years and having seen the devastation they cause, I’m even more delighted to have completed the challenge and to have raised more money for the charity alongside a strong CRG contingent.”
Philip de Ternant added: “After not being able to attend last year’s challenge in Thailand to Laos, I was passionate to ensure I would ride this year and support the fantastic work undertaken by MAG. To be part of such an important fund-raising event with my fellow CRG members and industry colleagues, I ensured I trained correctly so I would enjoy the event: however, none of us could prepare properly for the heat and the humidity we experienced. The ride was tough but thoroughly enjoyable to complete whilst taking in the magnificent scenery and surroundings of such a beautiful country.”
CRG representatives have raised over £40,000 for MAG
So far, the CRG representatives have raised over £40,000 for the charity, with the money supporting the life-saving work to clear landmines by MAG, a charity employing more than 6,000 people in 30 countries. Every day, around the world, 15 people are killed or injured by landmines or unexploded bombs and tragically, half of the civilian casualties are children. Women, men and children live with the daily threat from these indiscriminate killers, unable to farm, attend school or play outside without fear.
The funds raised by all the participants will help the charity so it can continue to find, remove and destroy even more of these deadly items from places affected by conflict. It also provides education programmes so that people can live, work, travel and play as safely as possible until the land is cleared.
This is the 9th ride with previous challenges taking place in Vietnam and Cambodia (2015), Sri Lanka (2016), Laos (2018), Vietnam (2019), Cambodia (2020), UK cities (2021), Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022) and Thailand-Laos (2023). In total, over £1 million has been raised through the bike rides.
To add to the funds already raised, you can visit the team member’s individual Just Giving pages or donate directly to MAG here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/vietnam-cycle-challenge-2024.
