Wolves fans get on their bikes for 300-mile jaunt to Ypres

Eight members of the Punjabi Wolves Supporters Group are hoping to raise £8,000 for five charities when they get on their bikes for the mammoth expedition next month.

Brierley Hill-born Wolves star Danny Batth, who is of Punjabi origin himself, will see the fans off when they leave Molineux on September 4.

The 23-year-old centre-half said: "I'm right behind the Punjabi Wolves Supporters Bike Ride from Molineux to Ypres in Belgium next month.

"The guys are doing fantastic work to recognise the centenary of the First World War and the men and women who gave their lives. I'm equally proud that our ancestors came here from India to stand serve in the war. I will be there to see them off on the day."

Sponsors XL Accountancy are providing three members of staff who will provide support on the road, and Wolverhampton based TCH vehicle hire has provided two vans for the support crews to travel in.

Punjabi Wolves Supporters' Andy Sahota, who has done five other major charity bike rides in the past, said the group wanted to mark the sacrifice of the men who died for their country.

He said: "At eight o'clock every night they do the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, where a bugler plays, and it will be wonderful to go just for that, to pay our respects to the soldiers who laid down their lives for our country.

"Around a quarter of a million Sikh soldiers served in the British Army in the First World War."

The Menin Gate was built as a memorial to nearly 55,000 soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient during the First World War, and whose graves were unknown.

Punjabi Wolves Supporters Group was formed in September last year, although Andy said many of the members have taken part in charity bike rides with other groups in the past.

Andy added that while the group was primarily for Wolves supporters of Punjabi origin, it was open to anybody and had a number of non-Asian members.

All money raised will be split between the British Heart Foundation, Compton Hospice, the Promise Dreams children's charity, Delete Blood Cancer, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Andy said: "Two of these charities are very close to my heart.

"Last year my father had a triple heart bypass, and the British Heart Foundation gave him a lot of support.

"My brother-in-law suffers from MS, but he will be travelling with us providing support."

The party will leave Molineux at 6am on September 4, heading north for Sheffield where they will spend the night. The next morning they will leave for Hull, catching the overnight ferry at 6pm, and arriving at Zeebrugge around 7am the following day.

Then on the final day, they will cycle first to Dunkirk, before finally reaching Ypres at around 6pm.

Andy, a 39-year-old graphic designer from Wednesfield, added: "The ferry crossing will take 13 hours, but that will be good fun as it will give us a chance to socialise a bit, and have a few drinks.

"We do the bike ride together, but when you're cycling you tend to be in your own little zone a bit."

The route has been organised by Stuart Cairns, one of two non-Asians taking part in the ride, and like Andy, he took part in a 400-mile charity bike ride to Paris last year.

Stuart, a 34-year-old old web and print designer from Albert Road, Wolverhampton, said the roads around Sheffield would be particularly gruelling, as the city is known for its hills.

"The hardest thing is the amount of time in the saddle, spending eight to 12 hours a day non-stop takes its toll," he said.

"In terms of the route, day one is probably the hardest, but physically it is likely to be day two which will be most difficult, because you don't normally get much sleep and the fatigue sets in.

"By day three, you are seeing the finishing line, and the adrenaline takes over."

The riders will all wear special cycling jerseys, featuring an image of the First World War Memorial in Wolverhampton's Heath Town Park.

Stuart added there were still places for any experienced cyclists who wanted to take up the challenge. Anybody interested can get in touch by email on stuart@punjabiwolvessupporters.com

Itinerary

Day one, September 4 (Molineux to Sheffield)

• Depart from Molineux stadium at 6am

• Rest stop near Fradley, Lichfield

• Rest stop near Derby

• Rest stop near Tibshelf

• Arrive at Sheffield 5pm

Day two, September 6 (Sheffield to Hull)

• Depart from Sheffield at 6.30am

• Rest stop near Royston

• Rest stop near Castleford

• Rest stop near Goole

• Arrive at Hull Marina at 5pm

Day three, September 6 (Zeebrugge to Ypres - via. Dunkirk)

• Depart from Zeebrugge at 9.30am

• Follow the coast to Dunkirk, France arriving at 2pm

• Depart from Dunkirk at 3pm

• Arrive at Ypres, Belgium at 7pm

• Observe the Last Post at 8pm