GM girls take to the water
25th October 2016

GM Fundraising has announced its latest epic fund-raiser – and there isn’t a bloke in sight. Paddle to Pedal, or GMFP2P will see an all-female team of 12 canoe 100 miles down the River Wye, then cycle 120 miles on to Hope House, GM’s beneficiary, and even have a go at abseiling in the middle. The event, to take place in August next year, had a special launch event with headline sponsors the Epwin Group at its HQ in Telford.

“This is the first time GM Fundraising has organised a challenge for females only” said GM Fundraising chairman Gary Morton, “Thanks to the efforts of headline sponsors Epwin, we have recruited a group of keen and competitive ladies to take on this challenge, which will see them canoe 100 miles and cycle around 120 miles, with an abseil thrown in the middle.”

“We are lucky that Epwin is also providing the canoeing expertise in the form of their Financial Director, Mike Bache. Of course, being veterans of most GM Fundraising cycling challenges, myself and Alan Sadler will be supporting the team with the cycling leg.

“The team will start from Glasbury on 20th August next year. Over the next 5 days they will be averaging 20 miles a day in a canoe, paddling down the wilds of the River Wye. They will stop off at Bredwardine, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth, before finally arriving in Chepstow on Day 5. For those that are really keen to take on the additional challenge there is an abseil at Symonds Yat, although this is optional. Day 6 will see the team commence on the 120 mile cycling part of the challenge, ending up at Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry on Day 7. The children, for who this is all in support of, will be welcoming us home, making the perfect ending to what is going to be a tremendous event.”

Clare O’Hara, MD of Epwin Window Systems and GMFP2P team member, added: “I have followed the previous challenges run by GM Fundraising with interest, and have wanted to do an all-female event for some time. When we came up with the concept of Paddle2Pedal I couldn’t wait to get involved! I am grateful to the support of Epwin Group, who are completely behind their three members of staff taking up the challenge, and are also the headline sponsor of the whole event.”

www.gmfundraising.co.uk