This October, Advance TRS’s director of client services & rail signalling, Sam Jennings will be taking part in Railway Children’s Ride Vietnam challenge.
As a novice cyclist, Sam will be confronting a challenging 450km cycle across seven days in 30-degree heat, on his barely used bike.
“Having never previously ridden a bike without balancing a child on the back, it seemed like a great opportunity to take on a huge personal challenge and raise money that will go to support some of the most vulnerable children in the world,” said Sam.
Training hard
So far, Sam has completed over 500 miles training in the saddle, with 340 miles travelled through a very hot July. With lots of water, sun cream, and only one puncture to date, Sam has hit the halfway mark on his donations target with only two months to go. In the next few weeks, he faces a step up in training with 100 miles a week to complete.
The trip itself will see Sam spend between six and eight hours in the saddle each day, travelling across waterways and plantations on unpaved and dusty roads, slightly different surfaces to the hills he will be training on, but all part of the challenge for a true bike novice.
Sam has previously completed the London Marathon raising over £2,500 for Action for Children, but is a complete newbie to the world of cycling and hoping to make the challenge worthwhile by beating his previous total.
Giving Back
Since the company was established in 2011, advancing less fortunate people has always been a central motivator for founder Andy Ridout and the Advance TRS team. To date, its staff have raised over £65,000 for charities, completing an incredible array of personal challenges to raise money and awareness for those less fortunate.
Railway Children
Advance TRS has been a long-term supporter and partner of Railway Children and the Rail Aid campaign. Railway Children is an international children’s charity that funds rescue workers and street teams that seek out and help vulnerable children living on the streets. Advance TRS staff have completed a number of challenges to raise money and awareness for the charity including Three Peaks By Rail, three Ironman’s, a trek up Kilimanjaro, and one to Everest Base Camp.
Please support Sam to raise money for this excellent cause by donating via his JustGiving page here.
