INSPIRED by the Tour de France, Ilkley resident, Steven Butts, has taken on his own French cycling challenge to raise funds for charity. Steven, who is head of corporate responsibility at Morrisons, will be taking part in the Trois Etapes, a gruelling three day cycle race in the French Pyrenees taking in over 27,500 feet of climbs.

The race is unique as it allows amateur cyclists to compete alongside professionals, with 15 teams, each consisting of seven amateurs and one professional rider. Participants come from all over the globe to take part and raise funds for worthwhile causes and even includes former Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre.

Steven’s team are fundraising for FoodCycle, a charity which tackles food waste and food poverty by taking surplus food and using it to create communal meals for people at risk of food poverty and social isolation.

Steven said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this challenge for such an important cause. FoodCycle’s community-led approach of using food that would otherwise go to waste and bringing it to those in need is vital at a time when over half a million people are living in poverty here in the UK.”

Riding had taken a back seat to fell running until fairly recently, but the Ilkley cycling club, and the recent Tour de France visit, inspired Steven to get on his road bike again.

Through Steven’s work, he met the founder and CEO of FoodCycle and together they convinced him to join their Trois Etapes team. Also riding in the team this year is Greg Mansell, the professional racing driver and cyclist (and son of Formula One world champion, Nigel Mansell).

If you would like to sponsor Steven, you can donate at www.virginmoneygiving/stevenbutts.

You can also find out more about FoodCycle at www.foodcycle.org.uk.