Sharp Business Systems UK has announced its Product Marketing Manager,Julian Hodges has raised over £32,000 for charity, completing the ‘Blazing Saddles’ cycling challenge from Oldham to the Rock of Gibraltar.

With this fourth challenge spanning over 15 days in July, the team of 13 rode almost 1700 miles and climbed 100,000 feet to add to the £60,000 total from previous years. 

Averaging 115 miles per day, the gruelling intercountry ride saw the team cycle from Oldham to Portsmouth, then through the lush countryside of France, over the Pyrenees, across the hinterlands of Spain, and concluded with a welcome by the fire service and Governor in Gibraltar.

Julian said, “I’ve always tried to stay active by cycling or running, but the last 9 months has been all about Blazing Saddles and preparing mentally to be away from my wife Rachael and the kids.

“The whole thing was hard, but the biggest trial for me was getting across the Sierra Nevada in Spain. We clocked the heat at over 42 degrees one day, it was like a desert, I think a couple of the guys were on the verge of collapsing.”

Pushing their bodies to the limit, the cyclists raised the outstanding grand total for Cyclists Fighting Cancer, the Fire Fighter Charity, mental health organisation MIND, and neonatal charity SANDS.

Julian added, “for me, getting up and through the Pyrenees was amazing, with 16 mile climbs it felt like I was part of the Tour de France. The route had some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen. There were stunning sunflower fields in France, central Spain was like the wild west, and the Pyrenees was full of breath-taking rocky gorges, a true once in a lifetime trip.”

The foolhardy cyclists funded their own travel expenses, ensuring that every penny goes straight to the chosen charities, show your support and add to their grand total here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=BlazingSaddles2&pageUrl=1