A keen cyclist has raised more than £2,000 for a Welsh hospice on a gruelling 300-kilometre overnight cycle event in Sweden.
Nick Powell, from Lock Stock Self-Storage, which has a base in Saltney, tackled the 186-mile Vatternrundan to raise cash for St Kentigern’s Hospice.
He set off at 9pm accompanied by family friend Stefan Janbro, from Nordinge, near Gothenburg.
They cycled through the summer night and 12 hours and 40 minutes later the pair crossed the finish line with Nick recording his best-ever average speed.
He said: “The time was similar to last year but my average speed was higher, about 17mph, which I’m pleased with though we had more stops.
“More importantly I aimed to raise £2,000 and we’re already well over that figure so thank you for everyone for their support and donations so far.”
St Kentigern’s Hospice is a cause that’s particularly close to the heart of Nick, a director of Lock Stock alongside his younger brother, Shon, because their elder brother, Simon, lost a long battle with cancer at the age of 57 and their mother, Jean, has also had the disease.
Nick added: “St Kentigern’s is a Vale of Clwyd charity that we at Lock Stock are very pleased to support and one which is particularly important to us as a family as we have cause to appreciate the good work being done by the Hospice.”
He trained for the event by riding up to 200 miles a week around North Wales.
He said: “It’s a tough event but it’s fun too. We pass through some wonderful countryside and the lake is beautiful while there is great camaraderie among the riders and support from the spectators.
“Stefan was a stoic pacemaker and a determined companion and it was great to ride alongside him but we were both pretty exhausted at the finish.”
