Photographer celebrating after doubling fundraising target in 100-mile cycle on ofo bike
Richard Jarmy led a team of 15 around a 100-mile route around north Norfolk on ofo bikes Picture: Richard Jarmy - Credit: Richard Jarmy
As the more hardcore cyclists on the Norwich 100 race sped past a group of friends on ofo bikes, they would have been forgiven for thinking that they were a group of tourists who had taken the wrong turning out of the city centre.
Mr Jarmy's 15-strong team headed to the Norwich 100 cycling event on Sunday, June 3 with their yellow ofo hire bikes Picture: Richard Jarmy - Credit: Richard Jarmy
But Norwich photographer Richard Jarmy and 14 of his friends were actually participating in the 100-mile route across some of the county's most scenic landscapes on the hire bikes for child bereavement charity Nelson's Journey.
In total, Mr Jarmy has raised £2,140 - a 214% increase on his original goal - following his team's ride starting at The Forum in Norwich and ending back in the city centre at Norwich cathedral.
Mr Jarmy is a keen cyclist who set out at the start of the year to do two 100 mile charity cycle rides in 2018 for Nelson's Journey, but half of the group were venturing into unknown territory by cycling the mammoth distance.
Mr Jarmy said: 'Half of us are keen cyclists but the other half had never done it (a route of this length) before - so it was a big achievement for them.'
Richard Jarmy and his team at the start line of the 100-mile route around the Norfolk coast Picture: Richard Jarmy - Credit: Richard Jarmy
The group effort, which is part of Nelson's Journey Twenty20 campaign where 20 businesses commit to raising £1,000 each for charity, took in Mundesley and Sheringham on the coast and the sights of Holkham Hall and Aylsham on the way back.
The photographer-cum-charitable enthusiast said: 'The whole event from lead up to actually riding was phenomenal!
Most Read
- 1 Two Norfolk seaside hotels named among the best in Britain
- 2 Breakup and burglary! Couple's chaos after £101m win on Euromillions
- 3 Norfolk couple: 'We’ve lost £30k in cryptocurrency scam'
- 4 Lane of A47 remains shut after serious crash yesterday afternoon
- 5 Norfolk zoo keeper abandoned as a baby reunited with mother in ITV show
- 6 Man seriously injured in A47 crash after police pursuit
- 7 Queen's Platinum Jubilee flypast rehearses over Norfolk
- 8 Boat users given fines over £16k for breaking rules on Norfolk Broads
- 9 A47 closed for several hours following crash in west Norfolk
- 10 Michael McIntyre and Robert Rinder spotted at Carrow Road
'The support we got from ofo was amazing as they wanted to make sure we had everything we needed to do the ride with. The riders passing us were all cheering us on and amazed that anyone would even think of riding 100 miles on an ofo - let alone go through with it!'
Matthew Sparkes, PR Manager for ofo, which operates over 10 million yellow hire bikes across the globe, said: 'Everyone at ofo would like to thank the team for their hard work and congratulate them for absolutely smashing their fundraising target. Nobody had ever ridden 100 miles on an ofo before but now we know it can be done.'
Richard Jarmy, left, was part of a team of 15 of his friends and family taking part in a 100-mile ride around Norwich on ofo hire bikes Picture: Richard Jarmy - Credit: Richard Jarmy
Mr Jarmy's online fundraising page saw a late flurry of donations on the day of the race and yesterday, and those wishing to increase his overall total can donate at www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RichardJarmySmile
