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A TEAM from Garenne Group which took part in the London to Brighton bike ride has beaten its fundraising target of £10,000.
The 20-strong team took part in the 54-mile long bike ride which is said to be Europe’s biggest fundraising cycle ride and attracted 28,000 riders. The Garenne team aimed to raise £5,000 for the event’s main charity, the British Heart Foundation with Garenne Group pledging to match the amount and donate it to Guernsey Chest and Heart.
‘The support we have had from family, friends and clients has been amazing and we had already beaten our fundraising target before we set off. We have now raised at least £7,500 for the British Heart Foundation and Garenne Group has agreed to match that for Guernsey Chest and Heart,’ said Garenne Group chief executive officer Andy Hall.
‘It was a fantastic event to be part of and 28,000 cyclists is certainly an incredible sight. We rode through some amazing scenery and the support from the towns and villages along the way was great with people handing out refreshments and putting on entertainment.
‘It’s a long day in the saddle but the whole team was determined to finish to raise as much money as possible for two very worthy charities.’
The Garenne team all completed the race within eight hours and encountered significant delays along the route following two serious accidents which saw a man and a woman taken to hospital. RG Falla employee James Travers, who has just been selected for the UK triathlon team to go to the World Championship in Canada next year, was the first rider in from the Garenne team.
‘Some of our team were delayed for more than an hour after one of the accidents and we’re just grateful that all of the Garenne team finished without any injuries,’ said Mr Hall.
The team members who took part were Muir Ashworth, Graham Brook, Matt Brooks, Laurence Butler, Lee De La Rue, Danielle Hanley, Richard Kalvis, Richard Lee, Ian Le Sauvage, Charlie Lowe, Paul Mason, KiernaMcSwiggan, Mark Palfrey, Paul Salazar, David Stuart, Debra Thompson, James Travers, Jack Waterman, John Waterman and Dean Winsall. The support crew was Sarah Greer, Richard Breban and Richard Jones.
Guernsey Chest and Heart Unit will use the money to continue funding its free health screening to Bailiwick residents aged between 25 and 75. Screening includes weight and blood pressure checks, blood tests for cholesterol and sugar, an ECG and breathing tests.
‘This year is our 40th anniversary and this generous donation from Garenne Group will be invaluable in allowing us to continue providing what is a very important service. Our aim is to reduce heart disease in the island by giving people advice on the ways they can reduce their risk factor for heart disease and we can only do that with the financial support of companies like Garenne Group,’ said centre manager Carolyn Oxburgh.
Anyone wanting to sponsor the Garenne team can donate online at www.justgiving.com/teams/garennechallenge or send a cheque made out to ‘Garenne Construction Ltd’ and posted to Garenne House, Rue de la Cache, St Sampson’s, GY2 4AF.
