The man in charge of fundraising for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance has spoken of the humbling experience of taking part in the Pedal For Pounds bike ride.
Paul Gowland, director of fundraising for the Elland based charity, praised the efforts of all those who took part in the 280 mile Tour de Yorkshire.
The ride, which finished on Saturday (4th May) at the John Smith’s Stadium, is set to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for Huddersfield Town’s Keep It Up campaign in support of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Club’s academy.
Paul, who raised £1,100 by taking part in the three day ride said: “The first two days were pretty good. The weather was nice and the ride was very well planned. The third day, we had the wind in our faces and from Scarborough we had a six mile climb up Sutton Bank. It was hard going and my knee ‘popped’. I was thinking, ‘this takes all the fun out of fundraising for me.’ But then a photographer was taking our pictures as we came down and the fun came back!”
Paul, who was joined by YAA’s chief pilot, Andy Lister, on the ride, said he was amazed to see Town flags and scarves hanging from windows in small villages on the route.
“With all the training for the ride, a group of friends did most of the work getting sponsorship for me,” he said. “Then at my local pub, the Shepherd’s Rest in Sowerby Bridge, they had organised a raffle and someone had donated the cash prize anonomously. It is very humbling the amount of support people have given – and I’m sure that’s the same for all the other riders.
I’d just like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part, and to remind people there’s still chance to donate.”
www.justgiving.com/Paul-Gowland-YAA
