Students cycle from coast to coast

Public Services students at Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) recently accomplished the Coast to Coast Challenge where they cycled from one coast of England to the other.

A team of over 15 students left their home comforts behind and set off from St. Bees on the Cumbrian coast on Wednesday 8th May to cycle 134 miles in three days on the popular coast to coast route.

As part of their course, Public Services students planned their own expedition, breaking the route down into three sections per day, each covering more than 20 miles. The team set up their tents and camped overnight at the end of each challenging day, concluding the trip in Sunderland on the North East Coast.

The students’ organisational, fitness and navigational skills were tested, both during the expedition and in training, as they practiced their cycling skills at Rosliston Forestry Centre in preparation for the three day mission.

The students completed the challenge in aid of Breast Cancer Care, sporting signature bright pink t-shirts in representation of the charity for the duration of the trip. They raised £3,000.

Public Services Lecturer, Rob Stevenson said: “The Coast to Coast challenge is a great opportunity for learners to put their fitness and navigational skills to the test. It gives students the chance to put the skills they have been learning on their course into practice and is a unique experience.”