TV chef starts 450-mile charity bike challenge

TV chef Rosemary Shrager has begun a 450-mile bike challenge to raise money for food poverty charities.

The 74-year-old started her journey on Sunday at Land's End in Cornwall and plans to cycle through Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and West Sussex to reach the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent by 18 June.

Shrager is aiming to raise at least £100,000 for the Hendry Foundation, which will give all of the money received to food poverty and food welfare charities in the south of England.

The chef said: "I visited a foodbank in Hastings and I was really, really upset and I thought, 'this is not fair, we need to do something to help'."

The chef, who had to relearn how to ride a bike for the challenge, said: "I've been wanting to do this cycle challenge for more than five years and at last I have found a wonderful group of people who believe in me.

"It has been quite a journey so far, but I'm proud to be doing this challenge for such a worthy cause that is so close to my heart."

On designated rest days, Shrager will do live cooking demonstrations and give talks, including at Kingstanding Business Park in Tunbridge Wells on 16 June.

She will also be visiting charities that will benefit from her Two Wheels for Meals fundraiser.

Rebecca Hendy, chairperson and trustee of the Hendy Foundation, said Shrager's determination was "truly inspiring".

"It's wonderful to see her so committed to making a difference to such an important cause that sadly affects millions of people," she added.

Shrager has featured in cookery shows and reality TV programmes, including Ladette to Lady, The Real Marigold Hotel, Royal Upstairs Downstairs and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.

Since it launched, the Hendy Foundation has given more than £350,000 to almost 250 charities in communities local to Hendy Group car dealerships across Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

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