The Only Fools and Donkeys Mules will take to their bikes again in June for their biennial charity bike ride, Mule Flandres.
This will be the sixth ride, which have contributed to over £300,000 being raised for local charities.
The ride will start and end in Amiens, taking riders across northern France into Belgium and the Netherlands, and back through the cycling mecca of Roubaix and its infamous cobbled climbs. With a choice of routes of 60, 80 or 100 miles per day over six days of cycling, the miles quickly add up, and on previous trips the riders have completed close to 30,000 miles between them.
With 55 riders and 10 crew, the ride has grown considerably since it was first held in 2014 with just 27 riders. 45 riders have taken part in one or more of the rides, and eight have either crewed or ridden them all.
Only Fools and Donkeys supports local charities working with children, young people and adults living with learning difficulties and physical disabilities.
“One of our most successful collaborations has been the purchase of three adapted bikes for Wheels For You, which was formed to enable those who can’t cycle a traditional two-wheeled bike to experience the joy of cycling. The three bikes are adapted differently and enable a range of disabilities to be accommodated.
“The numbers attending the sessions held at Les Beaucamps in the summer and Beau Sejour in the winter have grown considerably, and it’s wonderful to see the fun people of all ages have on the bikes,” said Sharon Parr, Chair of the Only Fools and Donkeys Board.
“We can’t do any of this without our sponsors and we are incredibly grateful to our Yellow Jersey sponsors for this year’s ride: Derek Birch & Sons, Pallinghurst Group, Stan Brouard and the Steve Morgan Foundation, along with our Sprinter’s Jersey sponsors Babbé, BDO, Creaseys and PwC, and back pocket sponsors Brittany Ferries, Collenette Jones, Ian Brown Cycles, Rock and Small and Van Mossel Jacksons,’ added Board member Ian Damarell.
“Most of these sponsors have supported us since the beginning, back to the 2014 and 2016 rides, and almost all have members of staff taking part in this year’s ride. We are very proud of the good work the charity does and the community it has created, which we believe is reflected in this support.”
