A group of British Gas colleagues spent a rather hot day in the bicycle saddle for 2 fantastic local causes, raising a whopping £2,300 in donations that were given to the charities.
They skidded around the coast of Isle of Wight, cycling over 64 miles to raise money for Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat (SSILB) and The Wave Project; 2 local charities that saw a significant reduction in locally generated funding during the pandemic.
The team put their tiredness from the heat aside, took a grip of their handles and completed the ride before celebrating with loved ones on the beach.
The Wave Project helps young people to reduce anxiety through award-winning surfing courses, and SSILB operates a 24/7 emergency lifeboat service with no government funding.
During the ride, SSILB were alerted via 999 of 2 inflatables drifting in the sea at a concerning distance. The volunteer crew quickly intercepted and brought them to shore, reinforcing the importance of supporting the local organisations – https://www.islandecho.co.uk/drifting-inflatables-spark-lifeboat-response-in-shanklin/.
Abbie James, of Wave Project Isle of Wight, says:
“It brings a smile to my face thinking what the group of cyclists have achieved on such a hot day. Not only have they taken on their own personal challenges during the ride, they are making a positive impactful change to local children on the island. Thank you”.
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Mark Birch of Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat adds:
“Its truly amazing what the group of cyclists have achieved. I’m full of respect for the Wave Project and the support they give to our local community. It was an honour to be picked by British Gas as one of their two charities this year for their annual ride”.
