THREE women from Newbridge-on-Wye have completed an epic five-day cycle ride in the Far East to raise money for a charity that saved their friend’s life.
Hayley Heard, Julie Knill and Helen Dudley have just returned after riding 440km from Vietnam to Cambodia.
Their trek raised more than £2,000 for research charity Ochre after their friend Adele Davies was successfully treated for oesophageal cancer.
Helen, one of the three riders, said: “Our cycle ride started in the crazy city of mopeds, Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, where we headed for the Cu chi tunnels.
“Over the five days we cycled 440km and visited several Buddhist temples and schools, passed rice paddies, beautiful lily ponds, rubber plantations and children running out of their homes to shout ‘hello’ and give us a high-fives as we went by.
“The challenge finished in Angkor Wat in Cambodia where there was champagne waiting for us.
“The different towns we visited and stayed in were Tay Ninh, Sven Rieng, Kompong Cham, Kampong Thom. It was an unforgettable experience. The weather was hot and humid, the terrain was rough but thankfully there were no injuries.”
The trip started on October 20 and the trio returned to Wales on October 28.
Helen said Adele has undergone a “huge operation and is now thankfully on the mend”.
She said Adele wasn’t well enough to go with the three of them but it was thinking of her that had got them through the toughest parts of the ride. Helen said the group was overwhelmed by the support they had had from friends who had sponsored them and she said she would “like to thank everyone for their kind donations”.
Anyone who would like to contribute to their total they have raised for Ochre, which will go towards increasing awareness of oesophageal cancer and paying for vital research can do so by calling her on 07966 219835.