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Team DSWF Brave Storms to Cycle For Wildlife!

Despite stormy conditions, Team DSWF battled their way round the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, helping to raise more than £2,000 to help our work protecting endangered species. The six conservation champions braved driving rain, blustery winds and treacherous roads as they tackled the 100-mile course.

Cycling students Rhianna O’Connor, Jeehoon Kang and Jordan Otty joined thousands of riders to pedal the route on Sunday July 29. Three friends Lizzie Connolly, Will Storey and Will Bromfield completed Team DSWF this year.

Rhianna and Jeehoon at the RideLondon finish line.
Rhianna and Jeehoon at the RideLondon finish line.

Rhianna and Jeehoon recently graduated from the University of Surrey with first class degrees in mathematics and despite only taking up cycling seriously earlier this year, they completed the 100-mile challenge in 8 hours 33 minutes – an amazing achievement for such novice riders in stormy weather.

“We got into cycling at the beginning of 2018 to explore the Surrey Hills during our last few months living in Guildford,” said Rhianna. “We both care deeply about all animals and after recently campaigning about veganism across the university campus, we wanted to represent vegan cyclists in this event, while also raising money for other types of oppressed animals across the globe.”

Three friends Lizzie Conolly, Will Storey and Will Bromfield from Battersea in London, crossed the line together, clocking times of 7 hours 53 minutes.  Jordan Otty from Kent and a student at the University of Bath, was forced to bow out at the 50-mile mark after three punctures – but he is vowing to take on the challenge again next year!

Will, Lizzie and Will collect their RideLondon medals.
Will, Lizzie and Will collect their RideLondon medals.

“A huge thank-you to all of our brave riders who took part in RideLondon this year to help raise awareness and funds for endangered species,” said DSWF’s Head of Fundraising Susie Baxter.

“Having trained so hard in scorching sunshine, the sudden onset of heavy rain and the drop in temperature made the event particularly challenging – but Team DSWF were amazing and we are extremely proud that they volunteered their time and energy to support what we do.”

The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 winds through a dramatic London backdrop and beautiful Surrey countryside on traffic-free roads including the challenging climb up Leith Hill, followed by the world-famous zig-zags of Box Hill.

If you’re interested in taking on this exciting cycling challenge in 2019 in support of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, please email  francesca.sheppardson@davidshepherd.org to register your interest.

You can help DSWF fight wildlife crime, such as elephant and rhino poaching, by sponsoring Team DSWF on their JustGiving page here. 

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