A group of 90 current and former BP employees have launched their quest to raise £1 million for good causes via the eighth Coast to Coast cycling challenge.
Over double the number of previous participants have committed to saddle up and tackle 250 miles from 20-22 May in an attempt to attain the £1 million target. The cyclists will split into two groups, following either a north route from Skye or a south route from Oban, with both finishing in Aberdeen. In its seven previous years the event has raised over £837,000, which includes matched funding from BP, and the group is hopeful that this year’s efforts will tip the total into seven figures.
“This is a particularly important year for the Coast to Coast challenge,” says Jon Turnbull, who has been involved from day one. “The principles of the event – to raise significant funds for those less fortunate, to promote a commitment to fitness and to encourage occasional riders to get involved – remain the same. There is, however, an extra buzz due to the £1 million target, the increased number of riders and, most importantly, the additional capacity to raise even more for good causes.”
Given the special nature of the 2016 event, the number of beneficiary charities has also increased this year from three to four. The charities, which all have a personal or local connection, are carefully selected by the Coast to Coast committee and offer assistance for people facing very different challenges. They include MND Scotland, which supports people affected by motor neurone disease; children’s charity Charlie House; mental health charity Support in Mind Scotland and family support charity Home-Start Aberdeen.
The Coast to Coast challenge has been linked with MND Scotland since its inception, in support of former BP colleague Ian Bowen. MND Scotland provides support for people affected by MND, raises awareness of the disease and funds research to understand MND and to find a cure.
Charlie House is a new, locally based children’s charity, which engages in activities and projects to support children with complex disabilities and life limiting conditions. Support in Mind Scotland, which has also been selected in 2016, seeks to support and empower all those affected by mental illness, including family members, carers and supporters.
The fourth charity, Home-Start Aberdeen, provides families who are vulnerable or suffering from isolation with emotional and practical support in their own homes. The charity is volunteer led and has been helping families in the city since 1987.
Georgette Cobban, scheme manager, Home-Start Aberdeen said: “We are extremely touched by our selection as one of the four charities to benefit from the 2016 Coast to Coast Challenge. The commitment of the cyclists, coupled with the matched funding from BP, is amazing. The assistance will make a real difference to our ability to reach local families who desperately need our help.”
In the lead-up to the event the Coast to Coast cyclists will participate in weekly training rides, as well as organising a raffle to raise additional funds. Anyone who wishes to donate to this year’s Coast to Coast fundraising effort can do so at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/c2c_8. Further information on the 2016 charities is available via their respective websites: www.mndscotland.org.uk, www.charliehouse.org.uk, www.supportinmindscotland.org.uk and www.homestartaberdeen.org.uk.