Norfolk Christian Matthew Newton, who runs a wealth management and financial planning practice, has just cycled over 250 miles from Calais to Reims, alongside former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan, to raise £2,293 for the St James Place charitable Foundation.
Matthew, who lives at Horsford, was one of 92 St James’ Place partners or employees to complete the challenge and raise a staggering £130,000 for the company’s charitable foundation. St James’s Place match every £1 raised from their own profits, meaning the grand total will be over £250,000
The Foundation distributes the money to charitable causes such as the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Norfolk-based Mercy Flyers charity has recently also received a grant.
Matthew said: “We covered the 256 miles from Calais to Reims, stayed in two cheap dodgy hotels, had 125 punctures between us – of which I had three – and climbed a total of 5,753 feet. We encountered one French thief who, for some unexplainable reason, took a fancy to one of our fluorescent yellow arrow signs, causing us to have an impromptu additional hour’s rest and one accident with a French car.
”Bradley Wiggins has no cause for concern at next year’s Tour De France, although I would happily help him with his financial planning,” said Matthew. “It is amazing what you can do and the sense of achievement you feel, when you trust in God to be your strength and jump in with both feet.
“When you have already done 90 miles in one day and have 10 more to go, the wind and hail (yes hail) is head on, in your face, trying to push you down the hill you are trying to climb, there really is only one to call on. The Lord certainly kept my spirits high throughout the ride. When you compare your own circumstances to those of the people and children we help through the Foundation, 250 miles on a bike over three days is a walk in the park.”
The Foundation distributes the money to charitable causes such as the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Norfolk-based Mercy Flyers charity has recently also received a grant.
Matthew said: “We covered the 256 miles from Calais to Reims, stayed in two cheap dodgy hotels, had 125 punctures between us – of which I had three – and climbed a total of 5,753 feet. We encountered one French thief who, for some unexplainable reason, took a fancy to one of our fluorescent yellow arrow signs, causing us to have an impromptu additional hour’s rest and one accident with a French car.
”Bradley Wiggins has no cause for concern at next year’s Tour De France, although I would happily help him with his financial planning,” said Matthew. “It is amazing what you can do and the sense of achievement you feel, when you trust in God to be your strength and jump in with both feet.
“When you have already done 90 miles in one day and have 10 more to go, the wind and hail (yes hail) is head on, in your face, trying to push you down the hill you are trying to climb, there really is only one to call on. The Lord certainly kept my spirits high throughout the ride. When you compare your own circumstances to those of the people and children we help through the Foundation, 250 miles on a bike over three days is a walk in the park.”
Read more about Matthew on this website.
Read more about the St James’ Place Foundation
Pictured above is Matthew Newton on his bike just outside Reims in France at the end of the ride.
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