Wheeley good effort by property firms sees thousands raised for charity
The region’s property businesses have been taking to their bikes to raise thousands of pounds for charity.
The Midlands office of GVA raised well over £30,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society when a team of 28 members took part in the recent 100-mile Birmingham Velo.
The team raised £10,444 via its Just Giving page – twice their original fundraising target – which has been double-matched by GVA.
Ian Stringer, who took part in the event, said: “This was a real challenge but one that prompted an overwhelmingly positive response from our Midlands team.
“That we managed to double our original target is one thing, but GVA’s commitment to double-match the funds raised means that we’ve been able to make a significant contribution to a wholly worthwhile charity.”
The fundraising was part of GVA’s commitment to raise awareness of dementia across its workforce and provide support to staff who are either directly affected, or so they can help people in their communities.
In total, it has raised and donated £160,000, with £75,000 committed to the charity this year alone.
The GVA Birmingham Velo team
Elsewhere, a group of cyclists, organised by LaSalle Investment Management, completed a 110-mile ride into Birmingham city centre to help raise around £10,000 for Crisis, the national charity for homeless people.
Simon Marrison and Natalie Edwards
LaSalle organised the London to Birmingham ride with 41 property professionals from across the industry on behalf of the company’s charity partner.
The riders had to face headwinds for most of the trip that began in London before crossing the Chiltern Hills, passing through Oxfordshire and Warwickshire before finishing at Platform 21 – a LaSalle-owned commercial building close to Grand Central in Birmingham.
Simon Marrison, LaSalle CEO Europe, said: “We had really tough conditions but hard work and a great team effort, from an amazing group of people, meant we made it to the finish.
“Crisis is our chosen charity of the year and we are delighted that this ride will support their work in Birmingham and across the UK, making a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Matthew Green, director of Crisis Skylight Birmingham, said: “The money will make a big difference, it is going towards our specialist Housing coaches who work with people at risk of becoming homeless.”
Also, staff from Warwickshire-based construction contractor Stepnell have completed a 300-mile charity cycle ride to celebrate the firm’s 150th business anniversary.
Thirteen Stepnell employees took part, with seven of the cyclists completing the entire route over four days and others joining them for sections of the journey.
Starting from the company’s Poole base, they visited the Wantage, Kidderminster and Nottingham offices before crossing the finishing line at the Rugby head office.
The cycling event raised more than £5,000, which has gone towards the company’s national fundraising drive in support of local air ambulance services.
The Stepnell cycling team is pictured at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The cyclists visited the Arboretum – where Stepnell built an award-winning new Remembrance Centre – during the 300-mile trip.
The Stepnell cycling team at the National Memorial Arboretum
More articles in
Sectors
