Incredible challenge pushes fundraising cyclists to their limits to help cancer research

Tesco store colleagues have rallied together to raise more than £21,000 for people affected by cancer.

Robert Milner, store manager at the Tesco Whiteley Superstore, inspired the event when he announced he was taking on a gruelling 300-mile cycle ride to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Robert’s aim was to visit 27 Tesco stores in a day, riding right through the night with some cycling friends. He was inspired to take on this gruelling task after seeing how the disease affected the lives of colleagues and customers, either personally when receiving cancer treatment or while going through the pain of losing loved ones.

The route began in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight and finished on the Isle of Portland, and inspired colleagues at the stores along the route to set up their own fundraising activities, including static-bike rides in their stores.

He said: “It’s one of the toughest things I’ve ever tried to do. Everyone found it very hard. At the end it was just me and my friend Ashley. I’d been in the saddle for 20 hours and I began to feel dizzy.

“It was getting dark and I couldn’t eat or drink because my stomach didn’t feel right. I’d done 233 miles of the 300 total, but the hills were just becoming too much for me.

“I’m a man of my word and I always do what I say, but I felt I would’ve fallen off my bike or had an accident if I’d carried on.

“I really did not want to quit, and it would’ve been easier in some ways to carry on than to quit, but I just didn’t feel I’d have been safe, so I called it a day.

“It was an ambitious undertaking, the second-longest route I’ve ever done, and it’s the second-most elevations I’ve ever done. I couldn’t have given it any more.”

Despite Robert not being able to complete his route, the combined effort of his cycling and the stores’ events has raised £21,616 so far.

Robert added: “This is a phenomenal amount of money, and I know it will do so much for those affected by cancer.

“All the stores we visited were amazing. I’ve never seen the Tesco group of stores so united. They were really welcoming when we reached each one, and they put on food and drink and party poppers. They created an amazing atmosphere to greet us.

“We’re definitely going to give it another go next year. The fire in my belly to succeed next time is stronger now more than ever.”

Tesco has worked in partnership with Cancer Research UK for 25 years, raising more than £75million to help beat the disease.

Jonathan Tye, Senior Partnerships Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Robert’s challenge was an extraordinary display of determination, commitment and community spirit.

“While he may not have completed every mile of his ambitious route, what he and his Tesco colleagues achieved together is far more important.

“Raising more than £21,000 is a remarkable accomplishment that will help support vital research into cancer and bring us closer to a world where more people survive the disease.

“We are incredibly grateful to Robert, the cyclists who joined him, and Tesco colleagues across all the stores who got behind this fundraising effort.”

Anyone wanting to donate to Robert’s fundraising total can go online at https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/group-47-tour-de-tesco-fundraiser