Ambitious target set for virtual cycle race

Sunday 02 April 2017

Prosperity Day, where businesses come head to head in a virtual cycle race, is being held on 16 June and is aiming to raise more than £24,000.

The funds collected during this third edition of the event will be split between two worthy causes: the Teenage Cancer Trust and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

The annual fundraising event, set up by technology company Prosperity 24.7, encourages local businesses to put their 'corporate rivalry' to good use. Teams race against each other virtually on turbo trainers throughout the day by the obelisk at Broad Street in St. Helier.

Each turbo trainer is connected to its own screen and transports the cyclist onto a virtual stage of an International road race. The races take place throughout the day and comprise of 30 minute heats, whereby participants of each team take it in turns to pedal as fast as they can, to cover the greatest distance. 

Each team is awarded points for its racing efforts but they also receive points through their fundraising as each team must raise at least £500.

Over the last two years, Prosperity Day raised over £31,500 with competitors from telecom providers, legal firms and financial institutions. Last year, KPMG pedaled to victory and beat their rivals. 

Chris Clark, CEO of Prosperity 24.7, says: "Prosperity Day is such a great event for local businesses to come together for an exciting day of rivalry, sportsmanship, competition and, most importantly, fundraising. We have an ambitious challenge to raise £24,700 so we hope that everyone will come together and help us to reach our target, and there’s nothing better than a little bit of corporate rivalry to get things going!"

"This year we are raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust Jersey Appeal.  We hope that funds raised during Prosperity Day will contribute towards their current education and awareness programme for Jersey schools.  This will increase knowledge of cancer in young people and help reduce the delay in diagnosis. We are also raising money for Durrell Wildlife.  Everyone has heard of the fantastic work that Durrell deliver locally and Internationally. They have trained conservationists, restored species to viable populations, and changed the role of zoos – from 'attraction' to 'ark' for threatened creatures.  Both charities do wonderful work and we will be championing their causes on ‘Prosperity Day’."

18 team slots are available and businesses.