Boba Fett, a girl’s bike and the End-to-End

More than 2,000 islanders will be taking to the road as well as the water for this weekend’s End-to-End.

But very few will be doing it dressed as Boba Fett from Star Wars, riding a generously-donated, pink girl’s bike.

That is the challenge Stafford Lowe has set himself, all in the name of charity and a bit of fun.

Mr Lowe is part of the 20-strong First Atlantic Team that will be riding the length of the island as Star Wars characters for this year’s Catlin End-to-End event on Saturday.

Over the past five years, the team has raised more than $90,000 for charity, and has just topped the $10,000 mark for this year.

Mr Lowe said: “This year I told people that if I raised more than $500 I would do the End-to-End twice and that if I raised over $1,000 I would do it on a girl’s bike with streamers.

“Until Wednesday night I thought I was safe at around $725 but then there was a last-minute flurry of pledges that has taken me over $1,000.

“My worry then became about where I could get a girl’s bike from at short notice.”

The 37-year-old businessman added: “I was walking back through town yesterday morning and I saw the bike outside Onion Jack’s and thought it looked perfect. 

“I spoke to the owner and told him about the Catlin End-to-End and how much money our team had raised so far and why specifically I needed a girl’s bike.

“At first I only asked to borrow the $225 bike but when I showed up in full costume to claim it he told me that I should keep the bike and give it away to someone deserving after the ride was over.

“I plan on running a competition via my website Jobber.bm after the race to decide who to donate the bike to. I really can’t thank Onion Jack’s enough, I don’t quite know what I would have done if they hadn’t come to the rescue.”

The top 10 teams that have registered for this weekend’s event have already raised $35,000 combined. And there are hopes last year’s record participant numbers will be topped again.

Catlin End-to-End board member Chris Burns said: “We are very excited about the positive feedback we have received in the run-up to this year’s event.

“Last year was a record year for the Catlin End-to-End in terms of participant numbers and we are currently on track to get close to that number and maybe even surpass it this year. The weather is looking like it is going to cooperate so it should be another fantastic event.”

If you would like to sponsor Mr Lowe or his team of Star Wars characters go to https://bermudaendtoend.bm/pledgepage/teams/first_atlantic_commerce_and_friends n