The leader of Nottingham City Council has completed a 350-mile cycle ride in aid of a charitable trust aimed at improving chances for young people in the crime-hit city.
Cllr Jon Collins pedalled from Paris through rolling French countryside and pretty villages all the way back to Nottingham in memory of murdered teenager Danielle Beccan who was tragically killed when she was the innocent bystander of a "drive by" shooting.
The tragedy marked one of the worst times in Nottingham's recent history and led to the formation of The Danielle Beccan Trust, which has already raised over £130,000 towards a studio for dance, Danielle's favourite past time.
Cllr Collins was joined by previous council leader John Taylor, and Jill Wilkinson from education charity Keys to Success, in his five day challenge. The group left Paris on April 14 and arrived home in time for the Nottingham Forest home game against Coventry on Saturday. They arrived only £3,000 short of their £10,000 target and still aim to raise the rest.
Regular blogs and pictures were posted throughout the ride. Cllr Collins explained why he had taken on the challenge: "Mainly to raise money for the Danielle Beccan Trust, set up in memory of the 14-year-old who was shot and murdered four years ago in St Ann's, the ward I represent.
"The trust aims to fund activities for young people from different Nottingham communities as a way of tackling the territoriality that regrettably still exists in the city."
The group set out on a sunny day in Paris under the Eiffel Tower and on into the French countryside passing, "chateau’s, cattle, a truck full of pigs, ponds and lakes full of fish, kids playing and small shops open in sleepy villages and hamlets," according to the blog.
The idyllic trip was painfully punctuated for the cycling councillor by a minor tumble, during which he fell off his bike and grazed his knee.
![](https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/images/injured%20knee.preview.jpg)
He told the BBC: "I did manage to hit the kerb and come off. I grazed my leg. That was fine. It would have perhaps been a little less embarrassing had I not done it in front of members of the local gendarme."
If you would like to make a donation, follow this link to the Just Giving page
Picture: Jon Collins (far right) and his team as they set off on Paris to Nottingham cycle ride.
... or 5 seconds with wire cutters....
I've lived in Brixton for three decades. I moved to Brixton when I first came to London because it was cheap and I didn't have a lot of money. It's...
I'll be watching the BMX racing. I know Kye Whyte a bit as I'm mates with his dad and know his mum and elder brothers too. I've met Beth Shriever...
Did any anyone else parse it as "cyclist ordered to pay £1,150 to trial speakers"?
Remember they've gone through a bit of ownership change of direction lately....
That's some really really long fingernails you've got there!
It's not too bad. Most just make enough to get by and make people have to accept waiting or a different color. They know people are going to be...
Indepent drivel: I like it.
I like this sales attitude! Old style UK deprecation. "There are better brands - but try our pedals. Some people like them."...
The world's biggest violin, meanwhile I'm playing the world's smallest