Holiday Extras bosses saddle up for gruelling charity cycle challenge

Three Holiday Extras bosses are using pedal power to raise £10,000 for charity in one of Europe’s toughest cycling challenges.

Deputy chief executive Simon Hagger, chief commercial officer Matt Paxton and European operations director Ian Copley are taking on Le Loop this summer in aid of the William Wates Memorial Trust, a charity which helps disadvantaged young people.

Le Loop takes the official route of the Tour de France a week before the professionals cycle the official race.

All three, who are calling themselves the ’Holiday Extras Loopers’, will cycle the first three gruelling stages of the route, known as the Grand Depart and covering 575 kilometres between Lille and Dunkirk, while Paxton will carry on to complete the full official route of the well known race.

This will see him take on all 21 stages of the route, fufiling a lifelong dream to ride the entire race.  The three-week tour totals 3,350 kilometres and 170,000 feet of elevation and ends in Paris. It is equivalent to cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats and back again while at the same time going up Mount Everest six times.

The trio, who are funding the trip themselves, have already put in months of training to prepare for the challenge and raised £3,000 for the cause.

Now they are calling on the trade for extra support to reach their £10,000 target for the charity, which was set up in memory of William Wates who was killed in central America during his gap year. It supports projects to help disadvantaged young people fulfil their potential and stay away from a life of crime.

Hagger said: “I have taken on a number of interesting charity challenges over the years, including a 70.3 Triathlon, the national three peaks, and swimming in relay teams across the English Channel and from Jersey to France – but the Le Loop will be my biggest test yet.

“Training is well underway, with fundraising efforts across our office at Holiday Extras helping us raise money for this incredible cause. As we get closer to the start of this mammoth challenge, every donation supports this brilliant charity so they can make a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged young people around the country.”  

To donate towards the cause, go to the group’s fundraising page here