LOCAL BUSINESSES GET BEHIND RAF ‘COAST TO COAST’ CYCLISTS

Elgin’s Bikes and Bowls, together with Giant, have donated two training bikes to the Operation Long Road team.

The Operation Long Road Team receive their new training bikes. Pictured: l-r = Sergeant Jason Lewis, Warrant Officer Diane McLeish, Mr Roy Hunte, Mr Andrew Jones, Warrant Officer Nick Styles. Also in the team, but not pictures PC Peter Taylor.

Operation Long Road is the mission, spearheaded by RAF Regiment Sergeant, Jason Lewis, to cycle 3,181 miles ‘Coast to Coast’ across the US to raise funds for Help for Heroes.

The team’s two cyclists, Sergeant Jason Lewis and Warrant Officer Nick Styles, both from RAF Lossiemouth, have each received a 2009 model GIANT DEFY 2.5, retailing at about £650 each. The bikes will be used for training for the next 6 months before the marathon cycle begins, and will be replaced with full carbon models for the charity ride itself, again donated by Bikes and Bowls and Giant.

Sergeant Jason Lewis, from RAF Lossiemouth, explained why this donation is so important:

“If it were not for the generosity of Bikes and Bowls and Giant, Operation LONG ROAD would not have been able to get off the ground.”

The bikes were one of the last major expenses that the team needed to cover. They have recently received generous donations from both Thales and Gleaner Oil of Elgin.

Thales, who hold the simulator contract at RAF Lossiemouth, have donated the cash, in the region of £7,000, to cover all the remaining logistical costs. Sergeant Jason Lewis explained:

“Operation LONG ROAD has significant running costs, as you would imagine, transporting a team of 5 and their equipment from the UK to California and then for 40 days travelling across to New York is bound to run up a few bills! So we are very proud to welcome Thales aboard.”

The entire fuel costs for the trip have been donated by Gleaner Oil of Elgin. Sergeant Lewis explained why having a support vehicle, and the fuel to run it, is vital to the safety and success of the mission:

“With the help of this donation we can now have two support vehicles. We can use one as a scout vehicle to transport all the equipment forward, scouting the route and establishing the overnight campsite, whilst a second rider support vehicle can follow the two riders carrying their life support and bike spares.”

He added:

“I would just like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of our partners; we are extremely grateful for their donations and support.”

Background:

‘Operation Long Road’ is the mission to cycle 3181 miles across America, coast-to-coast, in order to raise as much money as possible for the “Help for Heroes” charity. The Team, consisting of 2 cyclists, Warrant Officer Nick Styles and Sgt Jason Lewis, both from RAF Lossiemouth, plus 4 support staff, Mr Roy Hunte, team physio, PC Peter Taylor, security and administration, and Mr Andrew Jones, team mechanic, and Warrant Officer Diane McLeish, home support, will begin their epic journey in May 2009 at Santa Monica Pier California and will then cross the entire continental United States, finishing 46 days later at Ground Zero New York City.

Sergeant Lewis has gone to extreme lengths to publicise the charity and it’s work and has shown great dedication in sourcing support. Sgt Lewis has requested assistance from a wide range of corporate companies, and has gained support from many of them. Sgt Lewis has also received letters of support from Princes William and Harry and the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who said:

“You have my admiration and respect for your planned adventure which will clearly be very demanding of you and your team.”

The Help for Heroes charity is one that is very close to Sgt Jason Lewis’ heart as he is a British Casualty himself. During his unit’s last deployment to Afghanistan in 2007, he unfortunately became a casualty. He has since been diagnosed as suffering from Non-Epileptic Fitting Disorder, a stress related mental illness that manifests itself as seizures. As a result of this Sgt Lewis has now been rendered non-operational. He feels that as he now can no longer contribute on the battlefield, he, and the rest of the team have turned their energies to supporting those who can.

For more information on ‘Operation Long Road’ or to make a donation to the charity please visit http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcoasttocoast/