Rhubarb December 2025

Tour de Teddies: More Than Just a Ride W hat began as a bold idea quickly became an unforgettable adventure. Over the course of three sun-drenched days in May, 30 intrepid cyclists from across the Teddies community took to the road for the biennial Tour de Teddies, a 318km cycle challenge with one shared purpose: to raise funds for the St Edward’s Partnership Programme. The route was ambitious; 2,800 meters of elevation averaging 75-mile per day. Fuelled by bananas, flapjacks and plenty of electrolytes, the peloton wound its way through rolling countryside, navigating steep climbs, sweeping descents, and a lot of friendly encouragement along the way.The sense of camaraderie was immediate and uplifting. The route wasn’t just physically demanding – it was symbolic, too. Each stop held meaning. Day One brought the team to Winchester, St Edward’s birthplace; Day Two ended in Bath, where his remains were first laid to rest.The final leg, from Bath to Oxford, was the longest and toughest of all – 121km with over 1,200 meters of climbing – but spirits remained high, buoyed by the promise of home and the warm welcome waiting at Teddies. It was clear from the very first training ride – and even more so on the tour itself – that Tour de Teddies was as much about human connection as physical endurance, and the event became a space for laughter, shared challenge, and personal growth. Participants ranged from seasoned cyclists to those getting back in the saddle for the first time in years.What united them was a sense of purpose and a willingness to support one another. None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our corporate sponsors.We are hugely grateful to Strutt & Parker, Belmark & Nightingale, and Turquoise Holidays for their belief in the project and their commitment to making a difference. Strangers to Teammates: A Community on Two Wheels

BEYOND TEDDIES

Our cyclists with family and friends at the finishing line.

All smiles ready to take on the challenge!

Thinking of Joining Us for the Next One? I f you’re reading this and feeling a flicker of interest, look out for details of our next adventures we are planning.Trips like these are open to the whole Teddies community, and we’d love to see even more OSE, parents and friends join us next time. Whether you’re driven by wanderlust, a desire to support the school, or the simple joy of doing something completely different, we promise it’ll be unforgettable. Contact Sean at: thomsons @ stedwards oxford.org to learn how you can get involved and find out more.

I signed up thinking it would be a personal challenge... but it turned out to be so much more.The energy, the

people, the cause – it made every mile meaningful...

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