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Three Standard Chartered employees raised £1,306 by spending eight hours on static bikes ahead of undertaking two charity challenges.
Later this month, April McKenzie-Larrabee will be taking part in the Women V Cancer Night Ride where 3,000 women will ride through the night around a 100km route from Royal Windsor Racecourse, through London and back to the racecourse.
Next month, Alec Bailey and Kevin Allan will join a group from Guernsey for Mule Normandie, organised by local charity Only Fools and Donkeys. The five day ride will take them from St Malo through Normandy, including the Normandy beaches and a number of cemeteries, before heading back via Mont St Michel and Dinan.
The trio set up their static bikes in the lobby of the company’s South Esplanade office last week and rode from 8.30am until 4.30pm with colleagues, friends and people from neighbouring offices donating money and buying cakes. They had a fourth bike set up for anyone wanting to join them in exchange for a donation.
‘Both of the challenges will involve lengthy spells in the saddle and so all three of us have been training. This was the perfect way of combining training with fundraising and we can’t believe we managed to raise as much as we did,’ said Mr Bailey.
Trevor Kelham, CEO of Standard Chartered Trust (Guernsey) Limited, joined the trio for an hour from 1pm.
‘Standard Chartered has a company policy to support its team as much as we can when they are taking the time, and making the effort to raise money for those who are less fortunate. When Alec, Kevin and April came to me with the idea, I didn’t hesitate to say yes as they have all committed a huge amount to take part in these challenges,’ he said.
‘An hour in the saddle was enough for me so I don’t envy them the task they have ahead.’
Ms McKenzie-Larrabee is aiming to raise £500 before she goes to London on 28th May. The Women V Cancer Night Ride is aiming to raise £1m. for Breast Cancer Care, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.
‘Very few people are fortunate enough to be able to say that their lives haven’t been touched in some way by cancer and so when I saw the Women V Cancer Night Ride I thought it sounded like an exciting and worthy challenge. It’s going to be a great atmosphere and I’m looking forward to getting to the starting line and more importantly crossing the finishing line.’
Mr Bailey took part in Only Fools and Donkeys Mule Bretagne event in 2014, which raised over £36,000, and persuaded Mr Allan to join him for this year’s challenge, which starts on 17th June. As well as paying their own participation costs, every rider needs to raise £500 in sponsorship which Only Fools and Donkeys will use to continue their support of The Guernsey Sports Association for the Disabled, The Friends of St Martin’s Day Service and Le Rondin School.
‘The three beneficiaries which Only Fools and Donkeys support provide fantastic opportunities to less able adults and children. They have a real focus on identifying projects that make a tangible difference, even if it’s not always high profile or glamorous. Alec and I are looking forward to joining the group from Guernsey and experiencing the highs and lows of a cycling challenge which will take in some of France’s most iconic locations,’ said Mr Allan.
