It was ‘smooth sailing’ for a group of four cyclists who rode from one “art capital” in Europe to another on a mission to raise money for a Bermudian charity.

Tom Butterfield, director of Masterworks, an organisation dedicated to Bermudian artwork, along with friends Jay Nichols, Keith Hynes and Masterworks board member Elspeth Brewin rode 1,003 miles to try to raise $200,000.

The donations will all go towards the organisation’s Foundation which funds their initiatives, including educational art programmes and art activities.

And speaking with The Royal Gazette minutes after finishing the trek around art capitals of Europe, Mr. Butterfield said it was exciting because this was the first time the ride left England.

He said: “The planning and the routing make it very interesting every two years. We try to have a different theme and this year we have called it ‘A Capital Idea.’

“It has a double meaning which is the capitals we went to see and the capital we wanted to raise. And this year we wanted to go to some of the art capitals of Europe to also make it relevant to what we do.

“So this is the first time we have crossed the English channel. If you look at England, the roads are like veins with 700 to 800 years of them, which always made it a different ride in the past.

“To be really different this year though we decided to go to art capitals in Europe.”

The intrepid cyclists’ route began in London and from there down to Dover where they took a Ferry to Calais, France and then biked into Paris.

Just outside of Paris, the three men were met by Ms Brewin and the trek continued to Bruges and Ghent in Belgium. Following the tour of Belgium, the group made their way to Amsterdam and then returned to London.

Mr. Nichols, who is a ride veteran said: “The first three days were tough, after that the body got used to it and the last five days are a relative breeze!”

It all started when Mr. Butterfield decided the 1989 London Marathon would be his last, and he looked for other avenues to keep fit without stressing his body too much.

A bike ride, he thought would be less taxing and would give the public an opportunity to sponsor the riders therefore raising money.

After years of preparation, the marathon cycle was born in 1996 and has been held every two years to raise money for Masterworks.

The only requirement for participants is that they recruit sponsors, but the beauty of the bike ride, according to Mr. Butterfield is that sponsorship can be made on a variety of levels.

He said: “I believe this is the most democratic way to raise money. If someone wants to donate $0.50 a mile or $10 a mile they can do so and make a real impact on the charity.

“And over the course of 18 years it has really grown and the planning and routing make it interesting.

“This year we went down through Northern France to Paris and then up through Belgium and Holland. In Belgium we stopped at Ghent.

“I went because of one of the pieces, which I don’t think you would see anywhere outside of that city. It is the Ghent altarpiece, which was done in 1432 by Jan van Eyck.

“To give it perspective, that was 200 years before Bermuda was discovered.”

Accompanying the four-person group was a road crew including Mr. Butterfield’s wife, who helped transport their clothing and other pieces necessary for the trek.

The road crew and those behind-the-scenes in Bermuda helped make, what Mr. Butterfield called a very lucky journey — only one flat tyre on the first day and weather that could not have been better.

And Mr. Hynes, who was participating for the first time this year said: “It was great to be involved in this project, made even more enjoyable by the fact that funds were being raised for Masterworks.”

In the past this approach has raised $150,000 to $180,000 each year, but as well as crossing the channel for the first time, Mr. Butterfield hoped they could raise $200,000.

At the beginning of June, over 300 individuals had pledged to the bike ride and representatives at Masterworks said the total raised was getting close to $200,000.

And though the ride, which began on June 1 finished on Thursday June 14, the foundation continues to accept pledges to reach their goal.

Anyone interested in contributing can send a pledge to Masterworks’ email address: mworks@ibl.bm, by calling 236-2950 or by faxing 236-4402.