By Danielle Manning
October 09 2019, 17.45
Follow @SW_Londoner
Youtuber Alfie Deyes joined more than 3,000 cyclists for the rain-soaked Prince’s Trust Palace to Palace ride on Sunday.
Alfie, previously known by the username ‘PointlessBlog’, posted on Instagram he had hardly trained for the 45 mile event, in which cyclists ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle.
“I didn’t do much training at all…if you can even count going on 3 cycles as training. So it for sure was both mentally and physically challenging! So proud of all 3,000 who crossed the finish line today!” he said.
Despite not pushing the pedals much before the race he said it ‘was a challenge I couldn’t have enjoyed more’ if he tried and encouraged others to take part.
“The Prince’s Trust is an amazing charity supporting young people to transform their lives,” he said,
“It was a great ride with the rest of the team and I’d encourage anyone who wants a challenge in 2020 to sign up for Palace to Palace and help change the lives of young people in the UK!”
He captained a team of Celebrity Ambassadors including Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway, Ben Shepherd, Richard Arnold and Alex Beresford, and Olympic swimmer Jazz Carlin.
Riders set off from Buckingham Palace in heavy showers and followed a picturesque route taking in Richmond Park and Hampton Court Palace before reaching the finish line at Windsor Castle.
Some 400 serious cyclists chose to challenge themselves by following a modified 90 mile ‘ultra’ route.
Kate Garraway, perhaps more comfortable spending her mornings in a television studio than on a mountain bike, joked about the wet weather on Twitter before the race started.
“No one can ride in this can they!?! Maybe they will let us do it inside…like PE at school” she said.
She praised the charity, which supports around 100 young people a day, saying: “The Prince’s Trust is a fantastic charity that changes the lives of so many young people in the UK each year.
“I was nervous about the ride today but in the end the whole team from Good Morning Britain, Jazz Carlin and team captain Alfie Deyes did brilliantly.
“I haven’t been on a bike for years, but the tough cycle today was so worth it to help The Prince’s Trust.”
Jayne Tapp, 25, who took part as a Young Ambassador, has been supported by the Prince’s Trust since she was diagnosed with ME in her early twenties. She said: “Five years ago I was living a life defined by illness, but with the support of the Trust, I was able to set up my own design business.
“This has meant I am able to work around my health, from home and it’s given me back so much independence and confidence that I had lost.”
With help from the Trust’s enterprise scheme, which helps young people achieve their employment goals, she now runs an online store selling personalised wooden artwork.
Jayne, who travelled from Liverpool for the race said: “The best part of the day was definitely the atmosphere.
“Everyone was there to support each other, even in the rain at the start, and it was lovely to be encouraged by fellow cyclists on the tough parts of the cycle.”
Since it was founded by the Prince of Wales in 1976, the charity has helped nearly a million young people who are unemployed, struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.
Palace to Palace is in its 13th year and has raised more than £5 million for the Trust.
Feature image credit: Matt Grayson.
