Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Seamus Bennett, is to cycle almost 400 miles on a sponsored bike ride to raise money in support of four Felixstowe-local charities, BOOST Felixstowe, Felixstowe Coast Patrol and Rescue, Felixstowe NCI and Pushchair Pitstop.

The ride will start in St. David's, the UK's smallest city and the most westerly point of mainland England and Wales, on Friday, 26 April, concluding on the east coast in Felixstowe on 30 April.

Cllr Bennett will be joined by five fellow-fundraising Felixstowe friends, Adrian Hine, Pete Hurry, Torben Wood, Shane Connolly and Andrew Horne.

Pushchair Pitstop is a donation-based service, located in St John's Church in Felixstowe, providing clothes, toys and other essential household items to young families in need.

Felixstowe Coast Patrol and Rescue is Felixstowe's independent lifeboat charity and has been performing local rescues since 1977.

Felixstowe NCI operates from Martello Tower P on the South Seafront of Felixstowe and undertakes essential work to monitor the safety of the those along Felixstowe's coastline.

BOOST Felixstowe offers bereavement and counselling support to students at Felixstowe School.

The ride, which has been organised and is supported by Kwaremont Travel, will be completed across the following stages:

·        26 April – St David's to Lampeter (the UK's smallest university town)

·        27 April – Lampeter to Knighton (on Offa's Dyke)

·        28 April – Knighton to Shakespearean Stratford-upon-Avon

·        29 April – Warwickshire to Ely, with its imposing cathedral on the Fens of Cambridgeshire

·        30 April – Ely to Felixstowe

The highest point during the ride will be 1,200 feet on day two; the longest day is the 105 mile stretch, between Stratford and Ely.

Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Seamus Bennett, pictured with his fellow cyclists and representatives from his chosen charities, outside Felixstowe Town Hall, the final destination of the 400-mile ride.

The journey will conclude with a fanfare at Felixstowe Town Hall at approximately 4pm-4:30pm on Tuesday, 30 April. Members of the public are welcomed show their support.

Cllr Bennett said: "I am super excited that this long-standing cycling dream, to ride West Wales to Felixstowe in the East is finally happening, with great friends and support, topping off an unforgettable Mayoral year and raising money in support of my four fantastic local charities".

The Mayor is accepting sponsorship via donation to the Mayor of Felixstowe's Charity Fund. Donations can be made via GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/mayors-coast-to-coast-charity-cycle-ride-400-miles-5-days.

Follow the Mayor's progress via The Only Way Is East and Mayor of Felixstowe facebook pages here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557617190865 and here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075951403312