HUDDERSFIELD TOWN’S ‘Magnificent Seven’ fundraising cyclists are relishing the prospect of sunshine for their 200-mile ride to Wembley.
The group, led by Town chairman Dean Hoyle, have already raised more than £30,000 to take under-privileged kids to the play-off final.
The cyclists are all veterans of Town’s previous Pedal for Pounds rides, including the 260-miler from Yeovil to Huddersfield three weeks ago.
The weather on that epic cycle was atrocious with wind, driving rain and numbing cold.
One of the riders, Richard Noon, who completed the Yeovil and Brighton runs, was delighted the weather had turned.
“The Yeovil trip had some terrible weather. With the head-on wind, rain and cold it was like riding into a weather-testing tunnel at times,” he said.
“Thank goodness this ride will be sunnier and drier.”
Mr Hoyle came up with the idea for another ride to raise £45,000 to pay for the travel and tickets for 1,000 children who otherwise wouldn’t get to Wembley.
He will be joined by Richard, Mark and Graham Lee, Luis Alcantarilla, Stephen Beck and Mark Ronan.
The riders set off from the Galpharm Stadium at noon today (Wed) and aim to arrive in London on Friday.
Dad-of-one Richard, 28, research director at Ask Insight, a Huddersfield-based market research agency, said he wanted to help kids and be part of history.
Richard, who lives in Meltham with his partner Alice and 10-month-old son Oliver, said: “One day I want to be able to tell my grandchildren that I cycled to Wembley when Huddersfield Town got promoted to the Championship.”
Richard’s aches, pains and chafing from the Yeovil ride have gone but he jarred his elbow after falling off his bike at Lockwood Lights last week.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Anyone wanting to donate should send a cheque, payable to: Huddersfield Town Foundation Ltd, to Robyn Deegan at Huddersfield Town FC, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PX.
