Cyclist pedals from Paris to Coventry for Pudsey

Peugeot employees cycle from Paris to Coventry for Children in Need, Mike Knowles is on the back row of riders, to the right of Pudsey (no helmet)

An energetic employee from local Peugeot dealership, RRG Rochdale, has completed a gruelling 600km bike ride from Paris to Coventry, raising just over £2,000 for BBC Children in Need, Peugeot’s official charity partner.

Aftersales manager at the dealership, Mike Knowles, from Greenmount, Bury, saddled up for the sponsored cycle alongside general manager at RRG Oldham, Jonathon Taylor, and eight other riders from Peugeot Finance.

The intrepid cyclists pedalled 640km, taking them from the Peugeot Head Office in Paris to the Peugeot Head Office in Coventry, Pinley House, over five painstaking days.

After leaving the French capital on Monday 12 November, the cyclists travelled north, through Beauvais to the town of Amiens before arriving at Calais to catch the ferry on Tuesday 13th November. Back in the UK, they reached Bedford before setting off again for their final destination via Northampton.

The team completed the challenge on Friday 16 November – the same day as the live Children in Need telethon – and was warmly greeted at Pinley House by the charity’s mascot, Pudsey bear and a crowd of supportive family and friends.

Mike said: “This was the most challenging adventure of my life, but I enjoyed every single minute of it. It was tough at times but we all motivated each other to push through the pain barrier and just keep going. We were all determined to raise as much money as possible for such a worthwhile charity and we’re so grateful for all the donations.

“Everyone in the dealership has been very supportive and they cheered us on from start to finish. We were prepared for a physically demanding challenge, but the whole event was so rewarding that it was definitely worth all of the aches and pains.”

Tim Zimmerman, managing director at Peugeot Motor Company UK, said: “When Mike and Jonathon announced they were taking on the cycling challenge, we knew that it was no mean feat, so to complete it and raise such a significant amount for this great cause is an amazing achievement.”

The bike ride was the highlight of the dealership’s year of fundraising for Children in Need, which helps disadvantaged children across the UK, funding over 2,500 projects across the country and supporting causes in the local community.

The dealership has also been encouraging the car designers of tomorrow to create their perfect Peugeot 208 with ‘Pudsey’s Dream Wheels.’ To enter and be in with a chance of winning a Peugeot 208 visit www.pudseysdreamwheels.co.uk.