Wednesday 5 November 2008
09.00 hrs
Three firefighters who have been riding mopeds more than 2,000
miles for the ‘Slow Way Down’ charity challenge have returned
safely from their trip.
Danny Munden, Aaron Cooke and Ross Pullen, who are all based at
Speedwell Fire Station, spent 12 days riding mopeds from John
O’Groats, in Scotland, to Tarifa in Spain.
Dressed in fire kit the team is hoping to raise £10,000 for
Children in Need.
Team leader Danny Munden said: “It was a very eventful trip. At
the top of the Lake District I unfortunately hit a patch of diesel
on the road and fell off the bike. Then one of the mopeds broke
down, but luckily Bristol motorcycle dealer Fowlers were able to
provide us with a replacement for the rest of the journey.
“When we got to Dorset and prepared for the ferry crossing we
realised one of the team had forgotten his passport, so that
delayed us slightly. However we were soon back on the road and
witnessed some amazing scenery.”
Speaking about the trip, Aaron Cooke said: “It was a long
journey and we struggled with the torrential rain and gale force
winds in Scotland and the north of England, along with the snow
through the north of Spain. But the further south we travelled the
better the weather became.”
Ross Pullen said: “When we arrived in Tarifa it was such a
relief to get to the end of the journey, but we were also buzzing,
having completed the challenge. We are now looking forward to
catching up with our friends families and getting back to
normality.”
Now the team have completed the trip they are planning a
fundraising night where they will be auctioning off their kit and
other prizes to help them meet their fundraising target.
On Thursday 13 November they will be at Bar Humbug, on
Whiteladies Road, in Bristol, where they will be talking about
their trip, showing some of the photographs and footage taken along
the way and also holding a raffle and auction. Prizes up for grabs
include a signed Bristol Rugby shirt and a hot air balloon ride,
thanks to Bristol Balloons.
Danny, Aaron and Ross have also been invited to party with
Children in Need mascot Pudsey bear on the appeal night on Friday
14 November.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the trip can read more on
the team’s dedicated website www.theslowwaydown.com.
Danny said: “While our trip is over we are still busy raising
money for Children in Need and anyone who would like to sponsor us
can do so through visiting the website and clicking on the ‘sponsor
us’ link.”
The website also allows members of the public to read the daily
blog written by the team along the way. It has been created by
Bristol based company 3sixty Digital Marketing.
Other Bristol-based companies who have been supporting the team
include Ace Motorcycle Training, Bristol Balloons, Bristol Bus and
Coach Sales, Bristol Uniforms and Fowler’s Motorcycles.
ENDS