September 2014 - Andy Young pedals to Paris for the Legion

Retired RAF group captain Andy Young of Whittington is in training to take on a challenging bike ride covering 460km from London to Paris to raise money for The Royal British Legion in support of our Armed Forces.

Andy will be one of hundreds of cyclists on the ‘Pedal to Paris’ bike ride, which begins in London on Thursday 4 September and ends at the Arc De Triomphe on Sunday 8 September.

This is Legion’s nineteenth annual Pedal to Paris event and is the only charity ride to be escorted into the French capital by police outriders. The ride culminates in a moving memorial service at the Arc de Triomphe which is shut especially for the Legion’s cyclists. The only other cycling event that receives this honour is the Tour De France. 

Andy, who is President of the West Felton Branch of the Royal British Legion and a keen cyclist, had signed up for last year’s event, but was forced to withdraw after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Following successful chemotherapy, he is now in remission and has recently completed a 600-mile cycle ride from Suffolk to the north of Scotland, raising money for Leukaemia Research and Help for Heroes.

Andy is determined to complete this year’s Pedal to Paris, which he regards as ‘unfinished business’!  After serving for over 34 years in the RAF, Andy retired in 2009, but is still active as a pilot flying Air Cadets from RAF Cosford and helping out at his local Air Cadet squadron in Oswestry.

Andy is hoping to raise at least £800 towards the Legion’s vital welfare for members of the Armed Forces past and present, and their families. This year’s Pedal to Paris will commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the First World War, by paying special tribute at the Arc de Triomphe, which was part of the victory celebrations in France in 1919 after hostilities ended.

If you wish to support Andy you can do so through his fundraising page at

http://www.justgiving.com/Andy-Young7

 For more information contact:

 Andy Young,

‘Ashallow’ ,

Top Street,

Whittington, SY11 4DR

01691 671290