In November 2010 Kenny Lewis, Purchasing Manager based at Burdens Gatwick, raised £2,000 for charity by riding 270 miles through Death Valley, USA on a $99 beach bike from Wal-Mart!
Death Valley is so hot it holds the record for the highest air temperature recorded on Earth - 134 degrees Fahrenheit at the aptly named Furnace Creek. In that same year of 1922 the ground temperature was measured at over 200 degrees Fahrenheit!
For a place that is so hot and dry it was quite appropriate then that Kenny’s money went to WaterAid, a charity that helps to provide clean water and safe sanitation to the world’s poorest people in some of the driest places on Earth.
Although 270 miles in five days might not seem the biggest challenge in the world, apart from the extreme heat, Kenny had to contend with the beach bike’s notable limitations – an average return of only 10mph on level ground, no gears and in this case some very dodgy brakes. Kenny finally completed his journey by crossing the finishing line in the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada, a welcome reward for his superb efforts.
The full story of Kenny’s Death Valley experience can be found at: http://www.k9nny.blogspot.com/
