F ID I C O N FE R ENCE The Voerman International team: Ivo van Holstein, John Verheggen, Edwin van de Vliet and Erik Schaareman The cyclists with Bernie Villars, of Operation Smile Honduras The FIDI Cycle Challenge champions arrive at the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam CYCLE CHALLENGE RIDERS DO CHARITY PROUD! After months of preparation, 15 intrepid riders took to their bikes to complete the 140-mile (226km) 2019 FIDI Cycle Challenge from London to Amsterdam, arriving in time for the start of the FIDI Conference. Malcolm Pearson, Director of Reason Global Insurance, charts the journey O MALCOLM PEARSON, DIRECTOR OF REASON GLOBAL INSURANCE n Friday 29 March, 15 riders from all over the globe set out with a team from specialist event organisers Challenge Central to raise money for FIDIs chosen charity, Operation Smile Honduras (OSH), riding 140 miles (226 kms) from Trafalgar Square in London to the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam. Novice riders to experienced cyclists set off under the guidance of Challenge Central, which organised the ride alongside the FIDI Events team. The weather could not have been better over the two-day event, with glorious sunshine, but cyclingfriendly temperatures, all the way. The first day covered the 84 miles from London to Harwich, where the team took the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland. After a smooth crossing and a well-deserved sleep, the team set off on the 56-mile journey to the Conference hotel in Amsterdam. Aside from the challenges of cycling through two busy cities, both legs of the journey offered some of 20 FF291JunJul19 pp20-21 cycle challenge.indd 20 the best countryside and views you could see, with a coastal stop for lunch in Holland a particular highlight for all involved. After almost 11 hours of cycling, the team reached the Conference hotel to a fantastic reception from attendees and a very welcome celebratory drink with the FIDI Board. The well-organised coordination of this event by the FIDI team and Challenge Central was incredible, but this, of course, would have meant little without the fantastic response of the FIDI attendees, who flew in from all over the world to take part and raised about 9,000 for Operation Smile Honduras. The camaraderie between the riders was very special, with everyone involved ensuring no-one got left behind at any point. To be told by the Challenge Central team that it was one of the fastest times they had recorded from London to Amsterdam certainly made all the riders proud. This was a special way to raise funds during the final year of FIDIs support for OSH and created some great memories for all involved. A huge thank you goes to the FIDI and Challenge Central teams for the event organisation, Reason Global Insurance for its sponsorship and enthusiasm but, most of all, to the FIDI riders who made the huge commitment to take on such a fantastic challenge, raising so much money in the process. WWW. F I D I . OR G 10/05/2019 15:23