I'm not being funny but I'm fairly sure they could raise £16k by just not doing the ride and donating the travel and accommodation budget. whatever was wrong with sitting in a bath of beans for the weekend.
Its gotta be an easier thing to recruit for though, you might get one or 2 people who wanna sit in a bath of beans but then you have a lower catchment of sponsors compared to the 16 riders, but I see your point.
I’m always extremely sceptical of the value of “I’m going to do something I’d like to do anyway under the guise of charity, so can you donate some money in my name please” endeavours. I suppose a rising tide lifts all ships if it gets people to actually put their hands in their pockets.
Gotta feel sorry for this lot:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-62799594