“Bon Voyage to foreign shores…it’s a gentle ride to Rome.” Words of comfort from the Isle of Wight’s Chief Fire Officer Paul Street, to the team of 10 Island firefighters who are cycling heading to the Vatican.
Their journey is 1400 miles – part of which will be all uphill as they head over the Alps. But at least the summer sun was shining as they pedalled out of St Thomas’ Square in Newport, just after 7pm, on Saturday.
Among those seeing them off were the Island MP Andrew Turner, Lord Lieutenant Martin White and Council Leader David Pugh, who cycled 10 miles from Shanklin to present the team with a flag that’ll be next unfurled in Italy. Gloria and Edward Minghella, parents of the late film director Anthony Minghella (for whom the challenge is in memory), joined the dignitaries.
Family and friends were also out in force, many reduced to tears as they grabbed final hugs and kisses before the journey got underway. As the team rode out of the Square, along Newport High Street, their departure was cheered and accompanied by the sounds of the band Fat Samba. So far the Square to Square team, who will end their journey at St Peter’s Square in Rome, have raised a whopping £57,500.
They only set out to raise half that. It’ll be spent by the Wessex Cancer Trust on life saving equipment for St Mary’s Hospital in Newport. Read more about their adventure at
http://www.squaretosquare.org.uk/.