A 70-strong team of determined directors, media folk and medics set off from Bristol this morning on a gruelling 430km, four-day cycle trek to Paris to raise £100,000 for city charity Above & Beyond’s £6m Golden Gift Appeal.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson sounded an air horn to formally launch the epic cycle challenge from the Clifton Suspension Bridge, with Above & Beyond staff, and the riders’ families and friends cheering them on their way. 
The start of the challenge coincided with the announcement that Golden Gift Appeal has raised a phenomenal £5m in less than two years through donations by local people, businesses and Trusts. The 2015 Bristol to Paris Cycle Challenge will now lead the countdown to that final £1m.
Among those taking part are Jonnie Galvin-Wright of Stuff Advertising and Sue Atkinson of Ardent Communications. The medics include senior doctors and managers from University Hospitals Bristol such as divisional director of diagnostics and therapy Fiona Jones, consultant in hepatology Jim Portal and paediatric ED (emergency department) consultant Anne Frampton.
Jonnie, Director of Bristol Media and business ambassador for the challenge, pictured below far right with the Bristol Media team, is writing a daily blog as the riders cross southern England and then northern France as they make their way towards the finishing point underneath the Eiffel Tower on Monday.
Follow Jonnie’s blog here
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson, pictured above, swapped his trademark red trousers for a gold pair to start the Golden Gift cycle ride
