The group of 27 riders from across the sector, including The Morning Advertiser publisher Chris Lowe, have raised £110,000 for Only A Pavement Away (OAPA) and the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) and are on track to exceed the original collective total target of £140,000, according to organisers.
The challenge has received support from a variety of businesses including £16,000 being raised at the 2020 Publican Awards.
Riders have more than four months left of training and fundraising still ahead of the departure date of 10 March 2022.
Huge thank you
The hospitality sector riders include:
- Punch Pubs CEO Clive Chesser
- Admiral Taverns commercial director David Wigham
- Yummy Pubs co-founder Anthony Pender
- British Institute of Innkeeping CEO Steve Alton
- KAM Media managing director Katy Moses
- The Morning Advertiser publisher Chris Lowe
- Bums on Seats founder Amber Staynings
- Heineken UK head of corporate affairs Sophie Goodall
- Fleet Street Communications managing director Mark Stretton
- Chartwells UK head of communications Geoffrey Campion
- Wireless Social CEO Julian Ross
- Tipjar founder James Brown
- Industry expert, OAPA trustee and LTC school governor Paul Pavli
OAPA founder and CEO Greg Mangham said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to this group and to everyone backing this challenge.
“The money raised will be absolutely critical in helping us support people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans into careers within the hospitality industry.
“The work we do is only able to happen through incredible acts of generosity such as this and we wish every rider the best of luck in completing the challenge – we’ll be thinking of you in the heat in March.
KAM Media managing director Katy Moses, who came up with the challenge, said she wanted to raise as much as possible for the charities.
Incredible feat
LTC CEO James Brewster said: “What in incredible feat – this is a huge milestone and recognition for what will be an amazing achievement; 335km in just four short days to help support countless people in need across the hospitality sector.
“The money raised will be put towards a number of vital initiatives we run across the mental wellbeing, housing, health, education and employment support landscapes and it is a privilege to have been selected to put this money to its best possible use.
“Thank you to each and every one of the brave riders taking part – and all the best for training fundraising and of course, the challenge itself.”