The Great Britain Women’s Volleyball team cycled through Watermead Country Park at the weekend on the Loughborough to Leicester leg of their fundraising 250 mile bike ride.

The team are cycling from Sheffield to London raising money to help them compete at the 2012 Olympics in London. Their journey through Leicestershire saw them follow the route of this years Sky Ride, that links Watermead to the City Centre.

They stopped at The White Horse Pub in Birstall to hand over collection buckets to landlord Jim Foy. White Horse customers will be able to donate to the cause over the next two weeks.

The team then cycled through Watermead, one of the starting points for this year’s Sky Ride, and on towards the City Centre, stopping for lunch and a photo with Leicester City legend Alan Birchenall MBE in the Town Hall Square.

Team GB’s Jo Paxton, a teacher at Harry Carlton School in Loughborough, came up with the idea of the bike ride and explained the motivation behind it.

“We wanted to do something that was symbolic of our journey from Sheffield, where the team are based, to the volleyball venue for the 2012 Olympics in London.

“The sponsored bike ride fit the bill, as cycling is a great way to keep fit as well as raising money and we are getting unbelievable support along the way.”

Paxton’s teammate, Jenn Taylor from Shepshed, is a member of the squad and receives individual support from the Shepshed Building Society which enables her to commute to Sheffield in order to play and train with the rest of the team.

Lesley Pendleton, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport at Leicestershire County Council, said: “We are delighted to have welcomed the team to the county this week as they travelled from Loughborough to Leicester and beyond.

“Watermead Country Park has a number of new paths and cycle friendly bridges, and if you live in the area is a fantastic place where to start the Sky Ride from on August 29th.”

Donations to the team’s 2012 bid can be made in person at the White Horse, Birstall until Sunday August 8th, or on the team’s web site at www.gbwomensvolleyball.co.uk.

To find out more about Sky Ride Leicester 2010 visit www.leics.gov.uk/cycling.