Macclesfield man to cycle to the Netherlands for charity
By Alex Greensmith
22nd Oct 2024 | Local News
A bike-mad businessman is to pedal to a Dutch city tomorrow.
Russ Hope, managing director of Macclesfield delivery company eLOV, is to cycle from Macclesfield to Utrecht.
Russ already bikes parcels and deliveries around Macclesfield, Buxton, Wilmslow, Manchester and Altrincham for his job. As do his team of riders.
Now, Russ is taking an extra special delivery, himself, to the Netherlands.
Russ will set off from Yas Bean at 12:30pm tomorrow.
And Macclesfield Nub News spoke with Russ to find out more.
"I wanted to do a big cycle to raise money and awareness for my colleague and friend Ian Ray," said Russ.
"Ian is a good mate of mine who started the insane task of running 2024 km this year.
"He is doing this to help out and thank the people who have helped his partner Cath, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year."
The money will raise funds for the charity Prevent Breast Cancer, and be added to the ongoing total that Ian and Cath are fundraising throughout this year.
"Cath and Ian want to raise £20,024 in 2024. So if you want to donate in support of my bike ride to Utrecht, you can donate to their fundraiser.
"The cause is very close to my heart. I unfortunately lost my mum to breast cancer far too early. So anyone raising money for breast cancer or at least slowing it down is a good thing for anyone to be involved with."
"Ian Ray recently joined eLOV, helped open their stall in The Picturedrome earlier this year, and is leading the new community interest company recently formed.
One would presume you would head south east for the cycle. But having launched a zero carbon emission delivery company, Russ is not one to take the conventional pass.
"I'm cycling to Hull, it is the hilliest route you can take, but it is the shortest," said Russ.
"I'm cycling 100 miles to Hull via Sheffield and going over the Pennines.
"I am then getting the ferry to Rotterdam, cycling 40 miles to Utrecht via the cheese town of Gouda. I'm really looking forward to it, as a student, I used to live in the Netherlands.
"And on the way, I will be forging links from Macclesfield local businesses to the Netherlands.
"I'm taking some Fruits of the Forage chutney to a cheesemonger in Gouda.
"I will also be attending an official twinning presentation of [Macclesfield Canal floating coffee shop] Holly the Café Boat to another canal boat in the Netherlands."
"I'd like to thank both Holly the Café Boat and Fruits of the Forage. I told them about the trip, and said they would part-fund the trip if I would do some deliveries for them. They have paid for the trip. The trip is only possible by their backing."
"I'm also cycling to the International Cargo Bike Festival, that is why I chose Utrecht.
"Funnily enough, the founder of the International Cargo Bike Festival is from Macclesfield.
"He now lives in the Netherlands, he never thought it would be possible to see cargo bikes going all around Macclesfield, but with eLOV, we have made it happen.
"But to add challenge, what will be different is, I will be going on a manual cargo bike without electrical assistance, to add to the enormity of the task.
Russ hopes to return to Macclesfield on Sunday, and Monday will be his birthday.
"I look forward to putting my feet up," he confessed.
"Thank you again to everyone for their support."
To donate in honour of Russ' big bike ride, please click HERE.
Russ leads the business side of eLOV, as well as pedalling deliveries himself. Last month, eLOV formed a community interest company's that will be lead by Ian, please click HERE to find out more.
To find more about eLOV, please click HERE.
To find more about the Ray family fundraiser, please click HERE.
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