Fundraisers from CB Richard Ellis donate to Riders
18 July 2008
Fundraisers from the firm, CB Richard Ellis, have raised an incredible £10,690 to support Riders work in Africa by completing a ‘virtual’ cycle challenge.
Three-hundred-and-sixty-three staff from 20 teams across the UK took part in the cycle-ride. The teams partnered with the gym chain, Fitness First, with participants using exercise bikes to complete 5,500 miles, two complete laps of the United Kingdom.
In recognition of the achievements of those that took part, CB Richard Ellis’ Charitable Trustees agreed to donate two motorcycles to Riders’ programme in Kenya. In Kenya, we are working with a number of smaller community based grass routes organisations, which provide out reach care to local communities. These motorcycles will ensure that health workers will have access to reliable transport so they can reach many more people every month.
The money that has been donated by the firm will also cover the running costs of the motorcycles for the first three years, as well as the protective clothing for the health worker and their training in how to look after their new motorcycle and ride it safely.
Jennie, from Riders’ fundraising team visited CB Richard Ellis’s offices in London during July to receive the cheque from company secretary, Alex Naftis. Jennie said, ‘What is really fantastic is the connection between the challenge and the result that the money will have in Africa. One of the biggest problems to the delivery of health care in much of Africa is distance, and after cycling 5,500 miles the people who took part in the challenge now know a lot more about distance!’
‘We are very grateful to everyone that took part for all their hard work,’ Jennie continued. ‘The money that they have raised will have a big impact on communities in Kenya. The fact that this money will also provide for the running costs to keep these motorcycles on the road means CB Richard Ellis are helping to provide a sustainable solution for transport in Africa.’
Riders would like to thank everyone at CB Richard Ellis for raising such an amazing amount of money for our work. If you would like to find out more about Riders work in Kenya, you can click here, or to find out how your company can support our work, click here.