Three Oxfordshire cyclists are taking on the epic Ride London 100-mile event in May to help more deaf children achieve their dreams.

Ben Holland, Drew Spicer and Rhys Williams are all from Thame and claim they are very new to cycling – especially a distance of 100 miles but have been inspired to support AVUK by seeing the difference the programme can make to the lives of deaf children.

Drew’s wife Amy is AVUK’s Family Support Manager. The IT Consultant explained: “There is a tremendous need for the work AVUK does. The charity is the only one in the UK offering the programme which supports deaf children to listen and speak and be able to have the same life chances as hearing children.”

Architecture partner Ben has previously completed running events to raise money for various charities including The Brain Tumour Charity following the death of his wife in 2016. He said: “I am most certainly not a cyclist but this is such a great cause. I have never ridden anything like this distance before so it will be such a challenge but I can’t wait and I hope we can do AVUK justice.”

Ride London-Essex 100 this year is taking place on May 29^th with a new format and partnership with Essex County Council. The route begins in central London into Essex via Epping Forest and travels through picturesque towns and villages before joining a section of the 2014 Stage Three Tour de France route.

Landscape gardener Rhys has been cycling for several years in the UK and abroad and previously trekked to Everest Base camp in the Himalayas to raise money for charity.

He said: “We are hoping to complete the route in six or seven hours, and I am very much looking forward to it. I just need more time in the saddle beforehand!”

You can read more about the trio and donate here or find out how you can take on a fundraising challenge for AVUK and help deaf children achieve their dreams here