North Coast 500 plays host to charity cycle

A cycle team of veterans has set off on a journey around the North Coast 500 to raise money for Help For Heroes.

The group of up to 29 cyclists and their support teams, which departed from Wick on Saturday morning, 28 July, will complete the 516-mile-long route on Friday, 4 August, at the Mey Highland & Cultural Games at John O’Groats Showground.

Along the way, the cycle team will be greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Ross-shire, Janet Bowen, stopping overnight in Inverness, Applecross, Gruinard Bay, Lochinver, Durness and Thurso, before arriving back in Wick.

Tom Campbell, managing director of the North Coast 500, said: ‘The North Coast 500 has grown to become one of the most popular road trips in the world and widely regarded now as the number one touring route in the world. It is a challenging and rewarding route for cyclists, as Mark Beaumont, the world breaking endurance cyclist who set the record for cycling the NC500, will testify.

‘This year, we are delighted to welcome the Help For Heroes cycle team to the North Coast 500, and hope that cycling the route brings even more awareness to their amazing efforts to support out veterans.’

Captain Richard Otley added: ‘RBLS Wick, Canisbay and Latheron are delighted to work in partnership with the community, Help for Heroes and North Coast 500, raising awareness of all the great work carried out in support of our veterans.’

The North Coast 500 naturally follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-shire.

Launched in October 2007, Help For Heroes is a charity that works to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women who have been wounded in the line of duty.