TEAMWORK will be key as 15 teachers from Wilmslow High School each attempt to cycle 100 miles on a tricky course.

The group of mixed abilities in the saddle will tackle their challenge on Sunday, July 12, with the aim of raising more than £1,500 to be shared between two charities.

Matt Bebbington, who set up the event and will be one of the cyclists taking part, said preparations are going well but the distance on the day will be another level to what some of his colleagues have took on before.

“We have a variety of experience in our group but with a bit of teamwork and determination (and, fingers crossed, nice weather) I think we will all finish the 100 miles,” he said.

“We have been going out for team training rides together to prepare ourselves.

“We completed the first, hilly part of the ride, up Blaze Hill and Macclesfield Forest as a rehearsal last week to see if we could manage it and, fortunately, we could!

“However, once we complete this part of the ride we will still have 75/80 miles to complete before we finish.”

The adventurous bunch have already smashed their initial fundraising target and would like to boost the total as high as they can on behalf of the charities they are supporting – Wilmslow Youth and Wilmslow Parish Food Friends.

“We have been overwhelmed with how the Wilmslow community has supported us so far,” said Matt.

“After initially hoping to raise £300, we have now had over £1,000 in donations and we have now set a new target of £1,500.

“This is our way of giving a little bit back to two vital local charities that support the people and families of Wilmslow day in, day out.”

The ride will start early on the morning of July 12 at Wilmslow High School and follow a route out towards the daunting hills surrounding Macclesfield Forest, back across the mid-Cheshire plains to Byley and Lower Peover, up to Tatton Park followed by a Warrington-Altrincham loop before finally arriving back at the school.

The riders would welcome support, while social distancing, at the start, finish and along the route.

And if you would like to donate to the fundraising effort and find out more about the charities visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wilmslow100milecyclechallenge