Top companies get behind cycling mission for hospital
Famous brands have thrown their weight behind a Midlands businesswoman in her bid to raise money for the hospital that saved her life.
Michelle Vorel-Adams, owner of Uttoxeter-based international sports and commerce firm Sphere Connect, galvanised support for her cycling marathon, RIDE2020, and found big names keen to join her in saying ‘thank you’ to NHS heroes at the Royal Stoke Hospital.
Amid the lockdown, she and her partner Phil Fortun, a former Staffordshire police chief inspector, notched up a staggering 2020km over a month as their ‘one form of exercise’ a day using the picturesque grounds of JCB at Rocester as their starting point each morning.
The company was one of several big names backing their effort including online brand Sweet Spot, Fox’s Biscuits in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, Mornflake breakfast cereals in Crewe, Cheshire, the Francesco Group in Stafford and Pro Vision sports clothing in Stoke.
They offered support in cash and kind towards a £2020 fundraising target for the hospital where Michelle received emergency treatment for deep vein thrombosis in her leg which struck despite her active lifestyle and love of cycling.
That figure has now topped £2,800, thanks also to the support of friends, much to the delight of Michelle who remains forever grateful to the paramedics and doctors who saved her.
She said: “Last October I passed out with severe leg and pelvic pain which turned out to be a blood clot which was caught in the nick of time. I wanted to repay the hospital and lockdown gave me the time to do something about it.
“Every company I approached immediately said ‘yes!’ to supporting RIDE2020 and Phil and I now look forward to visiting the hospital to hand over the proceeds so they can spend it on kit, equipment or whatever they need.”
Michelle, from Uttoxeter, was Assistant Director for Leisure, Museums, Culture and Economic Development at Stoke City Council before setting up Sphere Connect in 2017.
The company provides a range of products and services from running professional sports events to commercial consultancy for organisations within the sports, health and leisure markets.
Michelle uses her international networks to connect sports and commercial organisations together to achieve goals that help develop sports infrastructures, participation levels and inclusiveness around the world.
Since its launch, Sphere Connect has achieved this across the UK and Europe and is currently developing projects with partners in Africa.
Michelle combines running the business with her role as UK & Ireland President for ACES Europe, the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation which promotes physical activity and healthy living across more than 500 destinations.
She added: “I have been a keen cyclist for the past 15 years, and have worked with the organisers of the Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour events for a decade now.
“As well as raising money, I am delighted to have done my bit to raise awareness of the benefits of cycling for physical and mental health which became even more important during lockdown.”
For more on #RIDE2020 go to Facebook and for Sphere Connect see www.sphereconnect.co.uk
