Beverage company boss takes on charity cycling challenge

Founder and MD of Sovereign Beverage Company, David Davies has returned from a taxing bike ride across South America, jubilant at having been part of a 31-strong team that’s raised over  £320,000 for The Truants Foundation, smashing the £300,000 target.

The charity event, which was organised by Rod Smallwood, founder of The Truants Foundation and manager of rock band Iron Maiden, gave businessman David the chance to work with the rock legend for a second time, as in 2013 Sovereign Beverage Company oversaw the introduction of the Iron Maiden ale, Trooper to the overseas market.

Having trained for many months doing 70 miles a day on his Peloton and cycling in the depths of the British winter to get prepared, David started the gruelling four-day challenge on 28th January.  Covering 174 km (nearly 110 miles) the cycling expedition took him and the other Truants across Buenos Aires, through parts of Uruguay and back to the Argentine capital. 

Whilst training has seen him take on the elements in the UK the climate in South America was equally as challenging with temperatures hitting 35 degrees under the blazing sun. It wasn’t all hard work though, with the team making a stop for refreshments at one of the country’s oldest wineries, Bodega Zubizarreta.

The adventure has been described by a fellow Truant as “not one of those posh racing-bike charity cycle rides that copy the Tour de France. No, we pop our (some more worn out and portly than others) frames on local bikes and cycle through the urban jungle until we find some air, before getting back on a bumpy, potholed highway on the way to a cheap hotel with a pool. It was a journey of shared suffering, sunburn, sore bums and dehydration - and team bonding, icy beer, and incredible Argentinian steak.”

David said: “Taking part in the ride was great and something I feel immensely proud to have joined.  I enjoy taking on challenges in work and life, so this ticked that box.  It was made more rewarding because not only did I have to push myself to my limits but it was also the chance to do something to support this amazing organisation and contribute towards the brilliant work that they are doing with young people around the country.”

The Truants Foundation has been organising the annual bike ride since 2010 and to date has raised £4.8 million for charitable causes.  The money raised from this year’s ride will be split between three UK-based children’s charities, Nordoff Robbins, ChildLine and Teenage Cancer Trust.