Four senior managers at Colchester-based building supplies company Kent Blaxill are taking part in a 450-mile charity cycle over the Alps for charity.

Simon Blaxill, James Park, Kevin Pryke and Julian Wood will be raising money for the Robert George Foundation – and already have more than £3,000 pledged.

Thirty teams are taking part in the three-day relay event on September 17 to 19, organised by Challenge Adventure Charities. The ride features climbs including the 21km Chamrousse and the famous 14km Alp d’Huez, which provided the finish for the penultimate day of this year’s Tour de France.

“We are feeling nervous excitement at the moment,” said Simon Blaxill, Kent Blaxill managing director. “There are not many sufficiently steep hills to train on round Colchester so I have spent a lot of time going up and down Glen Avenue, which is nearly the gradient of some hills we are tackling – just 10 miles shorter."

Image shows: (l-r) Julian Wood, Kevin Pryke, James Park and Simon Blaxill.