VIA Olympic Challenge

This event has been postponed for the time being and will be done at a later date.

With London hosting the Olympic Games in 2012 starting on the 27th of July and ending on the 12th of August, VIA has decided to do it's own challenge during this period.

The VIA Olympic Challege will be a bike ride starting as close to the Olympic Stadium as possible on the 27th of July on Day 1 of the games and the team will circumnavigate the coastline of the UK in a clockwise direction finishing the 3200 mile route on the 12 of August the last day of the Games.

The team will be made up of 8 veterans who are taking part in Veterans In Action's ALIVE Program and they will be split into 4 pairs running in a relay with each pair cyclying in 3 hour stages for the full 16 days of the challenge.

The cycling team will be supported by a VIA Support Team during the challenge with 3 vehicles one of them being a Motorhome so the team can sleep in between cycling and two Mini-Buses.

Members of the public, cycling clubs, service personnel and veterans can join the team for a day using their own bikes and getting sponsored for the event also. This will also help encourage the veterans taking part. Volunteers can also help us by becoming stewards in their local area.

Prior to the event VIA and teams and volunteers will travel the route with the intention of putting posters, collection boxes and VIA Wristbands in as many locations as possible and during the event the support team will visit these locations to pick up all collection boxes.

VIA wil be looking for volunteers to help out in all areas of the country to help our team distribute the collection boxes in their area so please help us by volunteering for this huge challenge.

Below is a list of the towns we will be passing through during our challenge and if you feel you could help us out then please contact us a info@veteransinaction.org.uk There are a huge list of towns so we need all the help we can get to get them out.

The total of cities, towns or villages along the route is 647 and in certain cities and towns along the route VIA will apply for permits to fundraise and also to promote the challenge prior to and during the event.

Greater London: Bethnal Green, Stepney,Bermondsey, Deptford, Greenwich Woolwich, Erith, Crayford and Dartford. 9

Southern Counties and Coastline: Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Newington, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Canterbury, Dover, Capel-le-Ferne, Folkestone, Hythe, Dymchurch, St. Mary's Bay, New Romney, Old Romney, Rye, Winchelsea, Icklesham, Hastings Bexhill, Pevensey, Eastbourne, East Deane, Seaford, Newhaven, Saltdean, Brighton, Hove, Portslade-by-Sea, Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Littlehampton, Felpham, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Portsmouth, Fareham, Sarisbury, Bursledon, Southampton, Ashurst, Lyndhurst, Hinton, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Lytchett Minster, Wareham, Wareham, Wool, Owermoigne, Osmington, Weymouth, Chickerell, Portesham, Abbottsbury, Swyre, Bridport, Morcombelake, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Colyford, Sidmouth, Newton Poppleford, Clyst St. Mary, Exeter, Kennford, Chudleigh, Heathfield, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, South Brent, Ivybridge, Plymouth, Saltash, Liskeard. Lostwithiel, St. Blazey, St. Austell, Grampound, Truro, Penryn, Helston, Germoe, Rosudgeon, Penzance, Sennen, Land's End. 94

Land's End to Bristol: Sennen, St. Just, Botallack, Pendeen, Trevowhan, Zennor, St. Ives, Hayle, Camborne, Newquay, Wadebridge. Knightsmill, Camelford, Otterham Station,Treskinnick Cross, Bude, Kilkhampton, Higher Clovelly, Bideford, Westleigh, Barnstaple, Braunton, Knowle, Lynton, Porlock, Minehead, Carhampton, Washford, Williton, West Quantoxhead, Kilve, Holford, Nether Stowey, Cannington, Bridgwater, Highbridge, Battleborough, East Brent, Lympsham, Weston-Super-Mare, Hewish, Congresbury, Cleeve, Long Ashton, Bristol. 45

Wales: Avonmouth, Chepstow, Caer-went, Langstone, Newport, Cardiff, Cowbridge, Bridgend, Pyle y Pil, Port Talbot, Swansea, Loughor, Llanelli, Burry Port, Kidwelly, Carmarthen, St. Clears, Llanddowror, Kilgetty, Milton, Pembroke, Johnston, Haverfordwest, Roch, Wood, Solva, St. David's, Goodwick, Fishguard, Newport, Cardigan, Aberaeron, Llannon, Llanrhystud, Aberystwyth, Tal-y-bont, Machynlleth, Aberdovey, Tywyn, Llwyngwril, Fairbourne, Tal-y-bont, Llanbedr, Harlech, Maentwrog, Penrhyndeudraeth, Porthmadog, Pentrefelin, Criccieth, Pwllheli, Llandedrog, Abersoch, Llandegwning, Rhiw, Aberdaron, Aberdaron, Anelog, Capel Carmel, Methlem, Rhydlios, Llangwnnadl, Tudweiliog, Groesffordd, Morfaefyn, Nefyn, Pistyll, Caernarfon, Holyhead, Caergeiliog, Llanfaethlu, Cemaes, Amlwch, Benllech, Bangor, Llanfairfechan, Penmaenmawr, Colwyn Bay, Llanddulas, Abergele, Bodelwyddan, St Asaph, Ewloe, Queensferry. 85

Northwest England: Ellesmere Port, Helsby, Frodsham, Widnes, Liverpool, Speke, Garston, Toxteth, Albert Docks, Bootle, Crosby, Formby, Southport, New Longton, Preston, Freckleton, Lytham St. Anne's,  Blackpool, Poulton-le-Fylde, Skippool, Hambleton, Stalmine, Pilling, Cockerham, Lancaster, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, Beetham, Milnthorpe, Heversham, Town End, Lindale, Newby Bridge, Backbarrow, Haverthwaite, Gawthwaite, Grizebeck, Hallthwaites, Whicham, Bootle, Waberthwaite, Ravenglass, Gosforth, Calder Bridge, Egremont, Whitehaven, Distington, Workington, Flimby, Maryport, Crosby, Aspatria, Wigton, Thursby, Carlisle. 56

Scotland West Coast: Gretna, Eastriggs, Annan, Cummertrees, Ruthwell, Bankend, Glencaple, Kelton, Dumfries, New Abbey, Dalbeattie, Dundrennan, Mutehill, Kirkcudbright, Carsluith, Creetown, Newton Stewart, Wigtown, Kirkinner, Sorbie, Whithorn, Montreith, Port William, Auchenmalg, Glenluce, Castle Kennedy, Cairnyan, Ballantrae, Lendalfoot, Girvan, Turnberry, Dunure, Ayr, Prestwick, Monkton, Irvine, Kilwinning, Stevenston,West Kilbride, Fairlie, Largs, Skelmorlie, Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Greenock, Port Glasgow, Bishopton, Milton, Dumbarton, Cardross, Helensburgh, Rhu, Faslane, Arrocher, Cairndow, Inveraray, Furnace, Minard, Port Ann, Lochgilphead, Bridgend, Kilmartin, Arduaine, Kilmelford, Kilmore, Oban, Dunbeg, Connel, Benderloch, Barcaldine, South Creagan, Portnacroish, South Ballachulish, Onich, Fort William, Torlundy, Spean Bridge, Laggan, Invergarry, Invershiel,  Inverinate, Ardelve, Auchtertyre, Attadale, Achintee, Lochcarron, Sanachan, Shieldaig, Kinlochewe, Talladale, Charlestown, Gairloch, Poolewe, Tournaig, Drumchork, Laide, Badcaud, Dundonnell, Braemore, Ullapool, Ardmair, Strathcanaird, Drumrunie, Elphin, Inchnadamph, Unapool, Kylestrome, Lower Badcall, Scourie, Laxford Bridge, Rhiconich, Carbreck, Keoldale. 114

Scotland North Coast: Durness, Sangobeg, Hope, Tongue, Coldbackie, Invernaver, Bettyhill, Lednagullin, Strathy, Reay, Bridge of Forss, Thurso, Castletown, John O'Groats. 14

Scotland East Coast: Freswick, Nybster, Wick, Thrumster, Ulbster, Lybster, Latheron, Dunbeath, Newport, Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie, Tain, Milton, Alness, Evanton, Tore, Inverness, Culloden, Nairn, Auldearn, Forres, Elgin, Lhanbryde. Fochabers, Portgordon, Buckie, Cullen, Portsoy, Banff, MacDuff, Dubford, Pennan, New Aberdour, Rosehearty, Fraserburgh, Rathen Crimond, St. Fergus, Inverugie, Peterhead,  Bodam, Longhaven, Cruden Bay, Chapel Hill, Newburgh, Rashierieve, Balmedie, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, Charlestown, Portlethen, Newtonhill, Stonehaven, Inverbervie, Gourdon, St. Cyrus, Montrose, Inverkeilor, Arbroath, Monifieth, Dundee, Newport-on-Tay, Leuchars, Guardbridge, St. Andrews, Boarhills, Kingsbarns, Crail, Anstruther, St. Monians, Elie, Lower Largo, Levin, East Wemyss, Kirkaldy, Kinghorn, Burnt Islland, Inverkeithing, Edinburgh, Leith, Portobello, Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Cockenzie, Longniddry, Gullane, Dirleton, North Berwick, Whitekirk, Tyninghame, Cockburnspath, Granthouse, Berwick on Tweed. 94

England East Coast: Haggerston, Fenwick, Belford, Twizell, North Charlton, Denwick, Lesbury, Warkworth, Amble, Widdrington, Ellington, Ashington, Blyth, Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, North Shields, Wallsend, Gateshead, Hebburn, Jarrow, South Shields, Whitburn, Sunderland, Ryhope, Seaham, Murton, Easington, Peterlee, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Grangetown, Redcar, Marske by the Sea, Skelton, Brotton, Loftus, Staithes, Sandsend, Whitby, Hawsker, Cloughton, Burniston, Scarborough,Filey, Bridlington, Barmston, Lissett, Beeford, Skipsea, Atwick, Hornsea Mappleton, Aldbrough, Roos, Withernsea, Hollym, Patrington, Keyingham, Salt End, Kingston Upon Hull, Barton-Upon-Humber, Thornton Curtis, Ulceby, Immingham, Cleethorpes, Marshchapel, Grainthorpe, North Somercotes, Saltfleet, Mablethorpe, Sutton on Sea, Mumby, Hogsthorpe, Ingoldmells, Skegness, Wainfleet All Saints, Wrangle, Benington, Boston, Kirton, Holbeach, Long Sutton, Sutton Bridge, King's Lynn, South Wootton, Dersingham, Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton, Thornham, Brancaster, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Stiffkey, Blakeney, Sheringham, Cromer, Antingham, North Walsham, Smallburgh, Stalham, Rollesby, Ormesby St. Margaret, Caister-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Hopton on Sea, Lowestoft, Carlton Colville, Kessingland, Wrentham, Wangford, Yoxford, Saxmundham, Farnham, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Capel St. Mary, Stratford St. Mary, Colchester, Mark's Tey, Kelvedon, Witham, Boreham, Chelmsford, Ingatestone, Brentwood, Romford, Wanstead, Leyton, Hackney Wick, Olympic Stadium. 136