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A team made up of hospitality and health club experts from Cadbury House / Black and White Hospitality have completed a 300 mile, four-day bike ride to raise money for Action Medical Research for Children.
Some 35 hospitality staff took part in the ride and they were lead by Nick Taplin, owner of the four-star hotel and health club at DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House and chairman of Black and White Hospitality.
Taplin was joined by Caroline Wilce, co-owner of Black and White Hospitality and Shezan Aslam, a director at Black and White Hospitality. Jason Eaton, the group director at TheClub and Mehmet Kandemir, the general manager at Cadbury House also took part.
A host of other riders also took part including John Dowling, general manager at DoubleTree by Hilton, Bristol City Centre and Chris Millard who runs the North Somerset Athletic Academy.
The riders set off from Crystal Palace on Wednesday 19 July, and peddled their way through Kent towards Dover.
After a ferry trip they then stayed in Calais before heading down to Arras on day two. Day three saw the team ride through the Somme towards Compiegne and included a visit to the World War One memorial at Thiepval.
The team were then up early to ride into the French capital on Saturday 22 July, passing the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs Elysee and finishing by the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Over £52,000 has been raised for the charity which is dedicated to improving the health of babies and children.
Taplin said: “It was an amazing experience and everyone made it down the Champs Elysee and on to the Eiffel Tower. There was a great mix of riders from very experienced to those who had only recently got back on a bike after many, many years – everyone did brilliantly.
“We experienced all sorts of weather conditions from heavy rain, high headwinds, warm sun and humidity.”
He added: “The determination by the team was really commendable and I’d like to thank everyone who took part and for not giving up. There were a few slips and bruises and plenty of punctures but we all finished with big smiles on our faces.”
