Dortech's Managing Director, James Sutherland sucessfully completed a 115 mile bike ride starting on Friday 24th Septmber at Flaxby Gollf Club to The Menin Gate in Flanders to raise money for two excellent causes; Help for Heroes and Martins House Charity.
Over 25 people took part in the event, which was organised by Wates Constructions Leeds Office. Nearly £30,000 in total was raised with further events planned for the future.
Included in the party was Brian Crosby, Headmaster of Manor School in York, one of whoms pupils had been burried in Essex Cemetry (a stopping point along the journey) during the first world war.
On the 3rd May 1915 a front line doctor, John McCrae, operating next to Essex Cemetry composed one of the most famous and popular poems to come from the war, 'In Flander Fields'.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from failing hands we throw, The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, through poppies grow, In Flanders fields.
Thus the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Day was brought into being.