Welwyn to Ghent Cycle
Two members of Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir swapped the comfort of a coach journey for an epic cycling challenge this summer, raising more than £2,090 for Hertfordshire Mind Network along the way.
As part of the choir’s 90th birthday tour to Belgium in August, top tenors Ali and Stew decided that simply travelling to Ghent with the rest of the choir was not adventurous enough. Instead, they set themselves the challenge of cycling over 200 miles from Welwyn Garden City to Ghent, all while fundraising to support mental health services across Hertfordshire. Stew had the added challenge of starting further away in Chipperfield – adding 17 miles to the journey.
The pair completed the journey over four days, encountering plenty of obstacles along the way. From navigational mishaps and steep climbs to multiple punctures and even a thunderstorm. Despite the setbacks, Ali and Stew successfully reached Ghent in time for the start of the choir tour.
Not only did they complete the demanding ride, but they also exceeded their fundraising target, raising an incredible £2,080, with a further £500 expected through Gift Aid. They also beat the rest of the choir who had travelled by coach!
Their journey consisted of:
Day 1: Welwyn garden city to Greenwich Park – 33 miles and some navigational challenges
Day 2: Greenwich to Folkeston – 74 miles – featuring 3 punctures! Ali and Stew were joined by Barry and Steve who’s puncture fixing skills were much appreciated
Day 3: Folkestone to Bruges featuring the channel crossing and a thunderstorm just minutes before arrival
Day 4: Bruges to Ghent – 29 miles in the pouring rain and a 5th puncture to round off the trip!
The funds raised will help Hertfordshire Mind Network continue providing vital mental health support and wellbeing services to local people, while also helping to raise awareness of the support available across the county.
Ali and Stew’s challenge was supported by fellow members of Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir, whose generosity and encouragement helped make the fundraising effort such a success. Huge well done to the choir for a successful tour which consisted of 3 concerts, 50 participants and a heap of great memories.
Louis and Annie from the fundraising team said:
We are incredibly grateful to Ali and Stew for taking on this amazing challenge and to everyone who supported them along the way. Cycling more than 200 miles across 3 different countries is a remarkable achievement, and the money raised will make a real difference to people experiencing mental health challenges in Hertfordshire. Thank you also to everyone at Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir for their fantastic support over the past year.
Everyone at Hertfordshire Mind Network would like to say a huge thank you to Ali, Stew and the entire Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir community for their dedication, generosity and commitment to improving mental health across Hertfordshire.
Their efforts demonstrate that every challenge, no matter how ambitious, can help ensure that more people can access the support they need, when and where they need it most.
Posted on: 15th September 2026