Five cyclists who braved the elements and rode 200 miles from Axminster to London across three days have smashed their fundraising target and raised almost £12,000 for The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Step 2 It campaign.
The ride started in Axminster on Friday 18 June, with the team having overnight stays in Salisbury and Godalming, and arriving at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London on Sunday 20 June at 1pm.
A small welcoming party, including David Woodward, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company cheered the cyclists as they pedaled into Austin Friars, greeting them with a glass of champagne and celebratory lunch.
The cyclists that took part were Ben Burbidge, Hayden Davies, Peter Hooper, Alan Styles and Paul von der Heyde, with David Dewing driving the support van. Burbidge, Dewing, Davies and von der Heyde are all past Masters of the Furniture Makers, Styles is Axminster Tools md and a corporate liveryman and Hooper is an experienced long-distance cyclist.
The group had initially set themselves the target of raising £7,500 for the charity but upped their goal to £10,000 just prior to the challenge. The total currently stands at £11,800 and donations are still coming in and will be accepted for a further month.
‘When saying yes, the ride seemed like a daunting prospect but the amount raised, the group and the support were amazing. Despite raining for most of the first day, we had lots of fun, covered many miles and the route was fantastic. Thank you to everyone who supported us do something towards the fantastic Step 2 It campaign. We are all exceptionally pleased with the amount raised and the awareness it’s created,’ says Styles.
Step 2 It is the 12-month campaign from The Furniture Makers’ Company that aims to inspire companies and individuals in the UK furnishing industry to organise sports-based fundraisers in aid of the charity and help raise £250,000, which will be used to support those in the trade struggling with financial hardship.
‘It was a great pleasure to be at the hall to welcome and congratulate the gallant cyclists on their record- breaking achievement. Their magnificent contribution to the Step 2 It campaign will enable the charity to reach out to more industry colleagues who need our support. I hope it inspires others to support the campaign by donating or organising their own event,’ says Woodward.
The Step 2 It campaign sponsors: Gold sponsors: Biesse Group and Blum; Silver sponsors: Axminster Tools, CDUK, Lamello, KI, Ocee Design and Panaz; Bronze sponsors: The British Contract Furnishing Association, British Furniture Manufacturers Association, Celtheath, Fishpools, Hypnos, National Bed Federation and Whitemeadow.