Night-rider Dave saddles a £4k charity windfall

While guests at Beauport Holiday Park near Hastings slept soundly in their beds one night this September, a gruelling marathon was taking place just outside their windows.

That’s because night manager Dave Marshall had set himself the challenge of cycling 100 non-stop circuits of the two-mile route around the park in just 24 hours.

But it wasn’t just the distance that Dave needed to get under his belt, for the ups and downs meant he also had to climb the equivalent of the height of Mount Everest.

Two hundred miles and 29,000 feet of ascent later, Dave finally dismounted after beating the clock – and smashing his target of raising £1,500 for charity.

For when all the sponsorship cash was counted up, it meant that two good causes would be sharing over £4,000 of much-needed funds.

They are Macmillan Cancer Support, and the Hastings-based Charity for Kids which provides vital support for disabled, sick and terminally ill children in the area.

Dave, who is aged 51 and lives locally, has worked at Beauport Holiday Park for the past four years, and has been a keen cyclist since he was a youngster.

This, however, was his biggest challenge to date – not least because of the combination of a ticking clock and his determination to stay in the saddle until the very end.

Backing for Dave’s bid came from a raft of different sponsors, including his friends and colleagues, suppliers to the park, and holiday home owners who have come to know Dave.

The biggest single donor, however, was Park Holidays UK which includes Beauport Holiday Park among the 26 park businesses it operates in Southern England.

“All of our parks have a long tradition of supporting various good causes, and often through the efforts of our managers and staff,” said group director Tony Clish.

“In this instance, the energy and determination put in by Dave was truly exceptional, and we were delighted to help him exceed his fundraising target so dramatically!” added Tony.

Dave has issued a big “thank you” to all his supporters, including those who stayed up throughout the night to cheer him on to victory.

Set in 250 acres of woodland with picture-postcard views across the Sussex countryside, Beauport is popular with families wanting to own a second home on the coast.

Open for 50 weeks of the year, there are more details about Beauport at www.ParkHolidays.com