A Huddersfield businessman selling bikes and golfing equipment has combined the two for a fundraising effort.
John Andrew, owner of Bike-Shed.com and Direct Golf, will lead a team of employees on a charity bike ride from Huddersfield to Hoylake in time for the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
The two-day ride will raise funds for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, a charity close to Andrew’s heart and one for which he has raised funds previously.
The 110-mile ride will be split into two days with the first section, taking place on Sunday, July 13, leaving at 8am from the Bike-Shed.com store at Leeds Road and heading to Burnley. The team will then join the towpath of the Leeds to Liverpool canal and head through Blackburn to Wigan, where they will stay overnight.
The following day will see another 8am start with the riders re-joining the canal, skirting Aintree, home of the world-renowned Grand National and heading through Bootle to the Pier Head ferry terminal at Liverpool. From there they will catch a ferry across the Mersey to Seacombe and will then follow the coastal path to Hoylake – aiming to arrive at 4pm.
John said: “This ride enables me and the team to combine three of my passions – golf, cycling and fundraising. What’s more, it’s a great opportunity to get some exercise and see some stunning views.
“I’m hoping that with a team of employees from Direct Golf and Bike-Shed.com, plus friends and family, we will raise somewhere in the region of £5,000 for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, which does so much very good work.
“I’m very excited about the ride and can already taste the first ice-cold drink we’ll have upon our arrival at Royal Liverpool!”
The Seve Ballesteros Foundation honours the life, achievements and professional career of its eponymous founder and preserves his legacy, supporting his passion, golf, and what the sport can do for young people.
Seve, who died in May, 2011 following a battle with brain cancer, set up the foundation in 2009 with the commitment to contribute to the advancement of science for the benefit of those suffering from brain tumours. The foundation raises money for scientific research with the aim of helping to cure brain cancer, working with some of the best scientists and institutes in the world.
John founded Direct Golf in 1991 with one small shop in Huddersfield. It now has 20 branches nationwide and was named best mail order company for eight successive years in the Today’s Golfer reader awards.
He launched his first Bike-Shed.com store in Huddersfield earlier this year. The 4,000sq ft store occupies part of the company’s flagship Direct Golf outlet and holds more than £150,000 worth of stock to supply demand for the country’s fastest-growing participation sport.
To support the charity ride with a donation for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/hoylake. To join the bike ride, contact Direct Golf marketing manager Simon Corp on 07795 620606 or email simon.corp@direct-golf.co.uk
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