Minister completes cycling challenge for Spire Appeal

benclowes

A local minister has cycled the equivalent of the first stage of the Tour de France in his local gym to raise money for the Alderley Edge Methodist Church Spire Appeal.

Reverend Ben Clowes cycled 118 miles and so far has raised over £450 towards the church repairs.

Between November 2010 and Easter 2012, Alderley Edge Methodist Church had nearly £500,000 worth of repairs carried out to the Spire and East Gable of the church. Whilst much of the money required was given in the form of grants from English Heritage, National Churches Trust and the Historic Churches of Cheshire Trust, the church has had to fundraise about £150,000 themselves.

At the beginning of 2014, the remaining balance on the work stood at nearly £5000 so Rev Ben Clowes challenged the whole congregation to try to raise £50 each during 2014.

Obviously the minister was not exempt from trying to raise £50 and he decided with the Tour de France beginning in the UK in 2014 to follow the local vicar's lead (Rev Jane Parry swam the channel in her local gym in 2013) to cycle the first stage of the Tour de France in the gym.

Beginning in April, the challenge was complete the 118 miles before the Tour left Leeds in early July. Ben managed to complete the stage on 12th June with a sprint finish and in doing this challenge has so far raised, with Gift Aid, in excess of £450 towards the remaining balance on the Spire and East Gable.

Rev Clowes said "I have great admiration for the riders of the real Tour de France after cycling the first stage over a number of weeks, knowing that they will do 3 weeks-worth of stages like this. I am hugely grateful to the generous people who have supported me in this sponsored event."

Tags:
Alderley Edge Methodist Church, Church Spire Appeal, Rev Ben Clowes
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