Council officer gets on his bike from London to Paris for children’s charity

A CARMARTHENSHIRE council officer is getting ready to cycle more than 300 miles from London to Paris to raise vital funds for children’s charity Action Medical Research.

Mike McCauley from Llanelli will join a group of cyclists including friends Bob and Tina Conyard from Llanpumsaint and Peter and Sandra Jones from County Cycles in Cross Hands for the four-day charity ride from July 18-21.

Mike, a senior waste officer based at Pibwrlwyd in Carmarthen, will spend around eight hours a day in the saddle, travelling an average of 80 miles each day.

The group will arrive in the French capital the afternoon before the finale of the famous Tour de France bike race.

Mike (pictured), aged 53, said: “I’m taking part in the London to Paris ride because I wanted to raise money for a charity that is very close to my heart. I started training in January and it was quite tough in the beginning but it is much easier now I have lost some weight and I’m really enjoying it. I will definitely carry on cycling after this charity ride.”

Mike joined Slimming World last September and has lost an amazing four-and-a-half stone and no longer needs to take medication for diabetes.

“I feel so much healthier now I have lost weight and so much fitter,” he said. “I want to thank Diane Williams from Slimming World for all her support; it really has made a world of difference to my health.”

Cyclists participating in the London to Paris ride will be raising money to help fund medical research into conditions affecting babies and children.

Action Medical Research is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2012 and has been funding medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952. The charity is currently supporting work around meningitis, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, premature birth and some very rare conditions that severely affect children.

So far Mike, Bob, Tina, Peter and Sandra have raised more than £4,000 for Action Medical Research. If you would like to sponsor Mike please go to www.action.org.uk/sponsor/michaelmccauley