Pedal power

Four intrepid explorers from the University of St Andrews are attempting the equivalent of five and a half London marathons – in a pedalo!

Students from the St Andrews Alternative Adventure Group (S.T.A.A.G.) will pedal 130 miles down the Thames from Oxford to Greenwich in a bid to raise money for The Alzheimers Society.

The team left on June 2nd and hope to be able to manoeuvre a standard pedalo, with an average speed of 2mph, exactly 127 miles (203km) to Greenwich in just nine days.

The group of four students, Tom Best, Matthew Eggelston, Joseph Dunton and Alastair Trickett, are aiming to raise over £2000 for the vital work of the Alzheimers Society.

S.T.A.A.G. has led previous adventures, such as cycling the length of Ireland, and canoeing the width of Scotland, however this is the first event of this scale and kind.

Alastair Trickett, a second year philosophy student and President of the society said, “The adventure will demand mental and physical toughness – qualities not normally associated with the stereotypical lethargic student!  We have started training, and the full magnitude of what we have let ourselves in for is fast becoming apparent.

“It is the equivalent distance of completing five and a half full marathons, except in a Pedalo with your knees around your ears.”

Team member Joe, a 2nd year history student and society Secretary, was doing his A-levels when his father contracted the disease. The Alzheimers Society provided welcome help and advice for Joe and for his mother.

He said, “The cause is very close to all our hearts.  We all know someone who has been affected by the disease in our own families. Over 700,000 people in the UK suffer from various forms of dementia and the majority of these will be living with carers who have little or no government support, which shows just how vital the work of the Alzheimer’s society actually is.”

To support the students and donate online, please visit www.yourunion.net/staag

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Two of the team members are available for interview :-

·        Joseph Dunton is on 07719 182 003 or email [email protected]
·        Alastair Trickett is on 07837 112 665 or email [email protected]

·        For information and advice on Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia call the Alzheimer’s Society national helpline on 0845 300 0336 or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk
·        For further information about the work of the Society contact Hannah Clack, Media Officer 020 7 423 3597

NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS:
IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE – CONTACT JOE OR ALASTAIR AS ABOVE.

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Fiona Armstrong, Press Officer on 01334 462530 / 462529, email [email protected]
Ref:  Pedalo 300508
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