COUNCIL OFFICER’S WHEELIE BIG CHALLENGE

A Carmarthenshire council officer is gearing up for a wheelie big challenge to raise money to help sick children.

Mike McCauley is cycling a total of 560 miles from Llanelli all the way to Paris in aid of children’s charity Action Medical Research.

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

Work colleague Ben Kathrens, aged 38, from Pembrey, is joining him on the first part of the Journey from Llanelli to London.

Then Mike will meet friends Bob and Tina Conyard from Llanpumsaint together with their son Richard in London who will travel with him to Paris.

Mike, aged 56, sets off on July 18 and will arrive in the French capital on July 25, the day before the finale of the famous Tour de France bike race.

“I took part in the London to Paris bike ride three years ago and the buzz you get as you cycle into Paris was just fantastic,” said Mike, a diabetic himself, who is also raising money for the Llanelli Diabetic Society.

“This time I wanted to take on even a bigger challenge so I decided to cycle from my home in Llanelli to London first. Hopefully I can raise even more money for two charities which are very close to my heart.”

For more than 60 years Action Medical Research has been saving and changing lives by funding medical research into conditions affecting babies and children including the first UK polio vaccines.

Mike added: “I would like to thank Ben, Bob, Tina and Richard for their support; I am sure their companionship and encouragement along the route will really help.”

If you would like to sponsor Mike please go to www.action.org.uk/sponsor/michaelmccauley2