THE sun was shining for the 30th year of the FLEET cycle ride, where 92 riders took part, raising money for ambulance equipment in Cornwall.

Participants register online, which is always a difficult few minutes, but Kathy Trebilcock had it all under control and everyone was issued with their respective forms and passes.

The St Austell crew were on form again this year, cycling from Par, St Austell and Roche to get to the start.

Batman and Superwoman, Richard Michael and Clare Beattie, dropped in. It was initially thought they were backing up the course safety, provided by Kieran Bignell, Mark, Ross Howard and Paul Renals, but Batman instead got held up at the Cornish Arms!

The cyclists received their course brief by Norman Trebilcock, FLEET general manager, and were started by Eric Buchanan, FLEET treasurer, as they followed an 18-mile route.

The first stop for many was for a bacon bap at ‘Nice Baps’ at the top of Gonvena Hill, before cycling on to The Red Lion at St Kew Highway, where Wendy provided light refreshments for the cyclists.

The route then continued through the country lanes through Trelill and onto Pendoggett where the Cornish Arms, John and Felicity, provided a well earned free beer.

From Pendoggett the route was mainly downhill into St Minver. James, Marcus, Sue and Paul Diamond provided a barbecue at the Gunvenna Holiday Park, with a free beer being provided by Sharps brewery.

A spokesperson said: “Thank you, it was an excellent stop over and appreciated by all the cyclists.”

Safety and course marshals were as usual provided by FLEET paramedics, they found the course a little easier than those on bicycles.

They did a fantastic job patrolling the course but some staff gave up their ambulances for pedal power raising more money for FLEET. The event finished at the Molesworth Arms with a fantastic buffet.

Two cyclists, Will Proctor and Martin Phillips Rowe, raised extra sponsorship by taking a dive and swim in Padstow Harbour.

A spokesperson said: “This whole event has now been running for thirty years and could not happen without the kindness and support of our local businesses including Nigel Wiggett at Bridge Bike Hire who has provided bikes free to the cyclists.

“Thanks also to the Harbour Commission at Padstow who ferried the cyclists from Rock to Padstow free of charge. Paul Renals, Kieran Bignell and Mark for the First Aid Cover.

“A fantastic day and £3,626 towards equipment for Cornish Ambulances. Thank you to all concerned.”

Mr Trebilcock added: “We are very lucky in Cornwall to have FLEET, which looks after and provides for our land ambulances.

“This doesn’t happen in other parts of the country although we are aware that over the years things have changed and much of the equipment is now standard and provided by South Western Ambulance service for all the ambulances. (As it should be.)

“We are also aware of the time which it takes for the ambulances to respond to 999 calls in and around our rural areas.”

Over the years FLEET has worked hard to reduce the time it takes to get trained staff to a cardiac arrest patient, with projects such as community responders, staff responder scheme and paramedic motorcycles.

They have also been working to install ‘Community Public Access Defibrillators’ (cPADs) across the county, which increases the chance that patients’ lives will be saved by early defibrillation.

FLEET’s latest project is to help communities get a cPAD for their village or town.

The latest innovation is an automated cPAD. In January 2014 South Western Ambulance Service ambulance control in Exeter was the only ambulance service in the country to have the appropriate computer software to monitor and control cPADs.

A cPAD requires power and a secure connection via the internet to enable the defibrillator to be continuously monitored, the temperature maintained and ambulance control to remotely unlock the device when needed without the need for key codes.

When the 999 call is received by ambulance control they can confidently direct the caller to the nearest cPAD knowing that it is in full working order. As soon as the cPAD is opened, alerts are sent to nominated locals who can help with treating the patient and ensure the defibrillator is maintained so it is ready for future use.

The Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support training program for all Cornwall continues to flourish and improve the skill of our men and women on the road.

Overall the FLEET cycle raised £3,626 for the charity.