Knorr-Bremse Rail UK employees have set off on a challenging charity fund raising ride from Melksham in Wiltshire to Monte Carlo, a distance of more than 900 miles, all in aid of Cancer Research UK.

On Thursday 28 August at 10.30am, the ten Knorr-Bremse riders, who were joined by 15 other intrepid souls, were cheered away from the Knorr-Bremse Rail UK HQ in Melksham by the entire workforce of nearly 400 based there. From Melksham, the riders set off for Portsmouth where they were joined by another 25 riders, then the crossing to France. The riders will complete daily distances of up to 100 miles for ten days in a row and the route includes a steep climb of over 2,000m across the Alps!

Knorr-Bremse is supporting the event through its Well@Work programme which encourages and supports its employees in living a healthier lifestyle and helping them to raise funds for charity.

In addition to providing support vehicles, riding kit and financial support for the organisers, the Inspired Living Charity, who raise funds for Cancer Research UK, Knorr-Bremse is covering all of their employee’s expenses and allowing them paid time off work to take part.

Inspired Living has raised more than £170,000 for Cancer Research UK from previous sponsored cycle rides. They now hope to raise a further £50,000 from sponsorship of the riders taking part in this event.

Human resources director of Knorr-Bremse Rail UK, Hanna Hammond, commented: "We have worked with the Inspired Living team through our Well@Work programme before so when they came to us with this idea we were keen to get involved.

"This event fits exactly into our Well@Work programme and we immediately offered all of UK-based employees the chance to take part. We knew that we had some very keen cyclists within the company and were delighted and I must say slightly amazed when ten decided they were up for this long distance-challenge!

"The Knorr-Bremse team has been training hard for this event and our entire UK work force has really got involved in sponsorship and in monitoring their progress."

For more information, please contact Knorr-Bremse.