{"id":3490,"date":"2013-09-16T16:13:02","date_gmt":"2013-09-16T14:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ceidiog.com\/pr\/?p=3490"},"modified":"2019-04-24T11:55:58","modified_gmt":"2019-04-24T09:55:58","slug":"intrepid-swansea-security-officers-get-on-their-bikes-for-a-fantastic-cause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceidiog.com\/pr\/news\/intrepid-swansea-security-officers-get-on-their-bikes-for-a-fantastic-cause\/","title":{"rendered":"Intrepid Swansea security officers get on their bikes for a fantastic cause"},"content":{"rendered":"

An\u00a0intrepid trio of security officers have swapped patrolling the Quadrant Shopping Centre in Swansea for pounding the pedals to raise \u00a3500 for charity.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three amigos, Steve Johnson, from Waunarlwydd, Lee Roberts, from Gendros, and Darren Hoare, from Mayhill, only took up cycling about 18 months ago as a handy way of keeping fit and seeing a bit of the beautiful countryside around the city at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

But as they became more proficient pedallers the threesome have been pointing their front wheels in a more serious direction by taking part in organised rides to raise cash for good causes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last summer, they entered the famous Gower Bike Ride covering over 100 miles between them in aid of the British Heart Foundation and they again climbed into their saddles to take part in the Pedal for Parkinson\u2019s ride around Llanelli.<\/span><\/p>\n

Steve, 39, who has been part of the security team at the Quadrant Centre for the past nine years, said: \u201cThe two other lads and I started riding our bikes together about 18 months ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt first it was just something to do to keep fit and maybe lose a little weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe got all the right clothing and helmets and we\u2019ve gradually bought some decent bikes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d go out as often as we could, at weekends and on our days off, and stick to the areas in and around Swansea.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, as we got better at it, we thought it would be good to enter some organised rides and raise some money for charity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLast September, we all entered the BHF Gower Ride. I decided to do the 50-mile route and the other two chose the 28-mile route.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe did pretty well and raised \u00a3300-400 between us. I suppose that gave us the taste to have a go at more charity rides.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Lee, 40, who has been a Quadrant security officer for the past six years, said: \u201cWe decided that another good ride to do was the Pedal for Parkinson\u2019s event and we\u2019ve done that one as well as the BHF Ride which was in June this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe all opted to do the 28-miler and it was a great ride, starting and finishing at The Discovery Centre in Llanelli and taking in some spectacular scenery along the way. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike the BHF ride, it\u2019s also for a very good cause, which is raising money to pay for specialist nurses to care for people with Parkinson\u2019s Disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t do any special training for the event because our regular rides have kept us in pretty good shape anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere were some tough hills to tackle and we did have to get off and push a couple of times but we\u2019re looking to do them again next year and that should take us past the \u00a31,000 for charity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve kept up our cycling since and so we should be in good shape for next summer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Darren, 34, and a Quadrant security officer for 15 years, said: \u201cWe chose the 28-mile route rather than the 55-miler because it\u2019s the first time we have done this particular event and we weren\u2019t all that familiar with the route.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe three of us started off cycling just to keep fit and we\u2019ve moved on to do these charity rides to give us a fresh challenge and a bit of a change of scene.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ian Kirkpatrick, Manager of the Quadrant Centre, said: \u201cThey\u2019re a good team here and they\u2019re doing a great job for charity as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great the way they have turned what started out as a hobby into a really worthwhile charity effort.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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