ABAX to Ajax – the challenge
- ABAX employees cycle 180 miles in two days
- None owned bike before training for marathon
- Day one 11-hour, 110-mile trip Peterborough to Hull
- Ferry to Rotterdam then 70-mile ride to Ajax stadium
- Team raised £3,500 for children’s charity The Free Kicks Foundation
ABAX employees have helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity after completing a gruelling ABAX to Ajax 180-mile cycle ride from the ABAX Stadium to AFC Ajax in Holland.
UK chief executive Chris Miller fronted the group of four from ABAX’s UK team who pedalled from Peterborough to Amsterdam.
ABAX moved its UK head office to the Allia Future Business Centre, situated in the Motorpoint Stand at the ABAX Stadium – home of Peterborough United Football Club – at the beginning of this year.
The company helps businesses with car and van fleets to ‘Know ABAX, Know The Rules’ when it comes to HMRC vehicle tax regulations.
The quartet joined 22 others in the charity ride raising money for The Free Kicks Foundation, a charity that provides days out as football team mascots for ill, bereaved and disadvantaged children.
Day one involved an 11-hour, 110-mile trip to Hull, where riders caught an overnight ferry to the start of the 70 mile leg at Rotterdam.
The other three ABAX employees were Asif Rashid, Matt Walsh and Guy Sharpe. Between them they have raised around £3,500. They were also joined on the ride by ABAX’s Dutch chief executive, Martijn Zewald.
ABAX UK chief executive Chris Miller said: “This was a tremendous achievement by the ABAX team and the group as a whole.
“When The Free Kicks Foundations approached us to take part we were more than happy to join in as it is such a great charity giving once in a lifetime opportunities.
“Not one of us owned a bike before we agreed to take part so as you can imagine a lot of training went in.
“I am really proud of the amount of money the ABAX team has raised to help the group exceed £10,000. It has also been a really inspirational exercise in team bonding as Asif, Matt, Guy and I work closely together in the office.”
Day one of ABAX to Ajax was plagued by punctures and mechanical issues. On day two the group had to battle against heavy rain and negotiate through sand dunes in the Dutch seaside towns.
On arrival at the AFC Ajax Stadium – ABAX is also a sponsor partner of the football team – the ABAX to Ajax group toasted their achievement and tuned in to watch England play their first game of the Euro 2016 tournament.
Steve Thorpe, from the Free Kicks Foundation, said: “This is the fifth consecutive year a group has ridden especially to raise money for the foundation. This was one of the toughest challenges yet and I would like to thank all the riders for their amazing efforts.”
To support the team in their efforts, click here.
