Pedal power pushes university staff and students on 132-mile challenge

Staff and students will promote the power of pedalling when they get on their bikes to cycle 132 miles from Coventry University to its London campus. 

The Past, Present, Future Cycle Challenge will see a mix of staff, students and alumni come together and ride 132 miles over three days to promote sustainable travel for the future and support education across the West Midlands. 

In the first charitable event of its kind by the university’s environmental team, 21 cyclists will set off from Coventry on September 21 in hope of encouraging more people to get active and use sustainable travel to reduce CO₂ emissions.

The team efforts also aim to raise £2,000 for charity, Hunters Hill Technology College which helps pupils from the most deprived areas of Birmingham who have not excelled in mainstream education due to social, emotional and mental health issues.

Planning to cover a daily minimum of 50 miles for the first two days, the eager cyclists hope to reach their destination by 11am on September 23 where they will be welcomed by staff and students at Coventry University London Campus. 

The charity ride is being led by Coventry University’s environmental team which has already launched two cycle scheme around the Coventry campus this year and seen the university named as a Gold Cycling Top Location.

Megan Patel, sustainability engagement assistant at Coventry University said: 

"We are all very excited about this challenge and hope to really push the benefits of cycling which we believe has benefits not only for the environment but on mental and physical wellbeing of our staff and students.

"We chose Hunters Hill because it’s a school achieving incredible things. They have done some fantastic challenges and we are delighted to be working with them.”

Claire McDonald, sustainability engagement assistant, said:

"We want to promote sustainable travel and raise money for a good cause at the same time. The group is great and so varied, we have a mix of avid cyclists and those who have only just got back on a bike, but we are all really looking forward to it.”

Michael Johnson from Hunters Hill Technology College said:

"Through the organisation of this amazing challenge Coventry University and Hunters Hill have developed a close relationship which we hope will continue into the future.”

For further press information please contact Hannah Smith, press officer, on 02477658352 or email hannah.smith@coventry.ac.uk.