Last month we shared that PMD's Paul Dyer and his riding partner Rob were heading to South Africa to ride 600km for SNAP. They made it. Here is Paul, in his own words.
From the Building Site to the Saddle
Usually, we're building homes. This time, I swapped the building site for a mountain bike and took on 600km across South Africa to raise money for the incredible SNAP charity in Brentwood.
In September, we embarked on an unforgettable journey from Clarens to Ballito/Salt Rock as part of Go2C. Seven days of riding, around 500 cyclists and one aim for us: get to the finish!
Heat, Altitude and a Climb to the Moon
We trained for 18 months, mainly early mornings at weekends, but nothing quite prepared us for the South African heat, altitude and relentless climbing.
At around 1,850m — roughly 6,000ft — above sea level, one 10km climb felt like we were heading all the way to the moon! And just to keep us on our toes, day seven gave us an absolute soaking.
It was brutal at times, but the scenery was unbelievable. We rode through parts of South Africa we would probably never otherwise have seen, making memories that will stay with us forever.
Why We Rode
The reason behind every pedal stroke was SNAP, a brilliant local charity supporting children and young people with additional needs and their families.
Together, we've raised over £10,500!
Thank You
A massive THANK YOU to everyone who donated, encouraged us and sent messages along the way. Your generosity and support helped us keep going through the toughest days.
A special thank you to my riding partner, Rob, for sharing this adventure — and for his world-class snoring. Approximately 10 minutes' sleep in 10 days, mate. Much appreciated!
Huge thanks to my wife, Purdie, for keeping everything running at home, and to Tiffany and the PMD team for holding the reins at work. Having that support made taking on this challenge possible.
An unforgettable experience, a huge personal challenge and an incredible amount raised for a cause close to home.
600km across South Africa. Done.
— Paul, PMD Building Contractors