Wilton Rotary Club member begins cycle challenge to France
Aubrey Steele is riding solo to Cherbourg
Wilton Rotary Club President-elect Aubrey Steele has started his cycle to France on behalf of the charity.
Aubrey is taking on the challenge to raise funds for the club, as well as it’s profile in the Wilton and Salisbury area.
Aubrey, 62, is cycling 115 miles to Newhaven from his home in Fovant, where he will board a ferry to Dieppe in France. Once on the other side of the channel, he will be cycling 254 miles to Cherbourg.
Aubrey will then board a ferry back to Poole, before cycling home to Fovant.
He told us he's on a mission to improve the brand of the Rotary Club in Wilton and Salisbury.
"The object of the solo ride, unsupported, is to raise the profile of Rotary and raise funds to help The Rotary Club of Wilton Trust Fund continue to support the local community and the poor and needy elsewhere," Aubrey said.
The Rotary Club has a worldwide network and Aubrey is planning to visit other clubs in both England and France on his way to his destination in Cherbourg.
Nibbling away at larger issues
Wilton Rotary Club helps support local charities, such as Stars Appeal, Salisbury Hospice and Julia’s House.
But they also help individuals, as Aubrey explained to us:
“There was a gentleman who had a as an electric wheelchair and his battery died and he couldn't afford to replace them. So we got him some new batteries.”
Another occasion was for a mother of three, who was struggling with money and needed a washing machine.
Aubrey said it’s important to keep nibbling away by helping people.
“It's the old grains of sand on the beach. If you keep picking them up and put them somewhere else. Eventually you'll have a bucket of sand.”
You can support Aubrey's challenge here.