Only Fools and Donkeys celebrates 10 years of charity bike rides with this summer’s Mule d’Âne-versaire ride.
The first ride, Mule Bretagne, took place in 2014 with a modest 27 riders and followed one route that started and ended in St Malo. As a nod to that first ride, this year’s challenge will use St Malo as the start and end point but this time cyclists have the choice of three routes – 60, 80 or 100 miles – per day and will take 55 riders supported by a crew of 10.
Sharon Parr, chair of the Only Fools and Donkeys (OF&D) Board explained: “We are very proud of how the far the bike rides have come in 10 years, the charities and projects we have been able to support with the £250,000 that has been raised in that time and the community of Mules that has been created. 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 Collenette Jones, Ian Brown Cycles and OvenU.
“The majority of our sponsors are also riders, as is our recently expanded Board which has welcomed four new Board members. This is not only due to the new charities regulations but also as a result of the success and longevity of the charity. I believe this says a huge amount about the rides we have undertaken over the years and also the charity itself.”
Fellow new Board member Mike Collenette added: “OF&D supports children, young people and adults with learning difficulties and physical disabilities on the island and it is wonderful to see the breadth of work the charity supports. From the purchase of a side by side bike for the Autism Hub and support of a gym buddy scheme with Headway to a significant contribution to the installation of the lift at La Vallette to make the site fully accessible to the building of raised planters and the purchase of plants, seeds and tools for Le Marchant Ward at the hospital to support patient rehabilitation. Some of these are big cost items but we also see how the small donations can make a real difference.’
Jim Smart, who will have cycled on all of the bike rides and now also sits on the Board said ‘I have loved being part of the OF&D rides and seeing for myself the benefits of the projects they have funded. I work at Le Murier school which the charity is hugely supportive of buying mountain bikes and helmets, physio equipment, supporting an after school climbing club, installing a professional kitchen in our Village and funding an annual trip to the ice rink. They have also just committed to a training course for one of our teachers to do a bespoke yoga course to work with complex needs children and young adults. It should not be underestimated the impact all of this has on the students.”
Mule d’Âne-versaire will take place from 8 to 15 June and will cover a scenic route from St Malo through Mont St Michel, Vitre, Nantes, Saint Nazaire, and Rennes. To see who will be cycling on this year’s ride and to make a donation please visit the website.
Pictured: Left to right – Back row: Ian Brown, Ian Brown’s Cycle Shop; Chris Robilliard, OvenU; Mike Collenette, Collenette Jones; Peter Creasey, Creaseys; Mike Birch, Derek Birch & Sons; Jon Lowe, PwC; Sharon Parr, The Steve Morgan Foundation. Front row L-R: Stuart Phillips, BDO; Andrew Willis, Pallinghurst Group; Nick Robison
