The group of nine cyclists, including Eryri VIP Senior Project Manager, Steve Ellison, began their journey at National Grid’s Pentir substation in Gwynedd. Over three days they travelled the length of Wales to Blaenavon in the south, covering a total elevation of 14,000 feet – more than the tallest three peaks in Wales, England and Scotland combined!  

On each leg of their journey, the team stopped off at local foodbanks including those managed by the Trussell Trust. Accompanied by a support team of four additional volunteers and two National Grid electric vehicles, they delivered contributions from a number of food donation hubs that were set up by National Grid at several of their sites.

At the first stop in Penrhyndeudraeth, the team purchased a donation of groceries from Siop Dewi, which was then generously topped up with some extra supplies by owner Dewi Lewis.

These were then delivered by Cllr Meryl Roberts to the Holy Trinity Church where Reverend Barnes distributed them alongside other donations to the local foodbank run by social enterprise Y Dref Werdd and other food pantry charities.  

Commenting after successfully completing the challenge, Steve Ellison said: “As part of our ongoing work over the next few years on the Eryri VIP project we have a clear commitment to supporting the local community and want to make sure we contribute where we can”.    

“Despite the sore legs our ‘Tour de Wales’ has been an extremely rewarding and worthwhile challenge to take part in, and we’ve been really grateful for the opportunity to provide these donations in aid of local charities that do such important work in providing critical help to those who need it.”

The Trussell Trust supports a network of food banks across the UK which provide emergency food to people who are facing hardship, as well as support to help people resolve the crises they face.  They campaign for change for people who are locked in poverty and to end the need for food banks in the UK.