The Isle of Wight Zoo is hosting a gruelling 5-day endurance cycling challenge in aid of wild tiger conservation this week.
Team Tigres is made up of 2 teams of female amateur riders including the Isle of Wight Zoo’s Director, Charlotte Corney and Marketing Manager, Karen-Jane Dudley. The girls will use 2 static road race bikes along with a mountain of sheer determination to cycle a combined distance of 3,500km between now and Friday (29th July).
The team are determined to beat last year’s fundraising effort which saw them cycle 1,156km and raise approx £3,000.
It is estimated that there are as few as 3,500 tigers left in the wild throughout Asia. Each kilometre that the cyclists cover will therefore represent 1 wild tiger with the target of raising at least £3,500 during the challenge. Visitors to the Isle of Wight Zoo will see the teams in action throughout the week and will be invited to donate to the cause.
The Team Tigres challenge is continuing to gather a great flow of support on both the Isle of Wight and further afield with Al’s Bikes of Sandown supplying the bikes and Cyclops providing the turbo trainers. Dutch student Mariet Van Schie, who spent 3 months training at the zoo as an intern, will be returning to ride with Team Tigres.
Karen-Jane Dudley and Mariet Van Schie have just returned from a trip to this year’s Tour de France to gain inspiration for the challenge, which also included a visit to the summit of Mont Ventoux and the time trial in Bourg Saint –Andeol.
The team have launched their own twitter page @team_tigres and dedicated website www.marketing362.wix.com/team-tigres to enable supporters to track progress and donate.
