Harlow College students to cycle to Venice

However the students of the Travel & Public Services Department wanted to do something a little different for 2010 and while doing so, help raise much-needed funds for a small local charity, the Canal Boat Project.

They have set themselves the task of cycling the equivalent distance from Harlow to Venice, in one day. And to help them in their task they have enlisted the support of the Centre Management team at Harlow’s Harvey Centre.

Centre Manager Bryan Young, “It was great to be approached by the College to help the students in their admirable project. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the Centre and to cheering on their marathon efforts.

“The Centre is delighted to be able to support the students in their exciting and worthwhile fundraising efforts, especially for such a local charity. We understand that they will be cycling ‘through’ up to 5 countries on their journey and will be dressed in national costume and we are looking forward to such a colourful addition to the malls on that day.”

Kelly Edwards from Harlow College’s Travel & Public Services Department is also excited at the prospect of the students’ undertaking, “Every year the students surprise us with their enthusiasm and ingenuity and this year is no exception.

“The students have worked extremely hard, researching an appropriate small local charity; gaining support from the College, their friends and family, Esporta (who have provided the spin cycles for the event) and working on the overall organisation of the event.

“Over 100 students aged between 16 and 20 years old will be taking part in groups of 10 at a time and we suspect that some students might have to do more than one leg. The students have already raised £170 from sponsors, so the support is out there!”

Doreen Goodall of Harlow’s Canal Boat Project said, “We are delighted that the students from Harlow College’s Travel & Public Services Department have decided to nominate us as their charity this year.

“The Harlow Canal Boat Project provides affordable opportunities for anyone with a disability, their carers, charities and community groups, to experience the joy of cruises on the inland waterways of the beautiful Essex and Hertfordshire countryside.

“Every penny the students raise will go towards the provision and maintenance of our four accessible canal boats, enabling us to ensure that the disabled have the same access to our beautiful countryside as anyone else.”

Bryan Young, “The team here is excited about the event and really looking forward to it. However, rest assured we will not be donning our lycra this year as rather more training might be required!