During what is likely to be declared the hottest UK summer on record the annual RideLondon-Surrey event, a 46-mile winding cycle through London, began in a downpour.
Managing director Kevin Preston stood on the start line in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the second time. Last year he completed the route alongside other franchisees from across the Drain Doctor network in aid of Ronald McDonald House Charities. This year he brought family.
The journey began months before when Kevin, his daughter’s partner and his son set about training and fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK.
“It did get a little competitive,” he said, “We’d share practice run times and comment on how each other did. When we met our fundraising goal, we doubled it.”
Exceeding expectations is something that has been ingrained into the Drain Doctor working culture over more than 25 years of dealing with all manner of drainage problems. As has giving back to the local communities, with employees regularly contributing to fundraising activities for charities such as MacMillan, Cancer Research UK, and Comic Relief.
On race day, the total sum raised crossed £1,500, eventually reaching £1,680.
46 miles and around 35,000 turns of a bicycle tyre later, with the rain abated and a blue sky breaking over Buckingham Palace, they were done.
Kevin, added: ‘”t wasn’t a race,’ Kevin says, ‘Or so the others tell me.
“For all the fun we had, the fundraising is the most important part. We’re just glad we’re able to do our bit.”
