Redditch CEO raises £2,000 for The Care Workers’ Charity by competing in and winning endurance cycling competition.
CEO of home care technology firm Unique IQ, David Lynes, has handed The Care Workers’ Charity a bumper £2000 cheque following his success in an epic two-day cycle challenge.
Competing against a host of other solo, self-supported riders, each competitor was tasked with planning their own route and deciding on when they should stop to rest and recuperate during the 48-hour period.
A challenge of speed, endurance and strategy, the challenge was not about the number of total kilometres peddled, but how far riders could go in a straight line, with any ferries or trains needed, deducted from the final total.
Starting his ride in Blair Athol in the Scottish Highlands, David managed to ride 648km (as the crow flies) ending his heroic journey in Salisbury, and travelling over 100km more than his nearest rival.
David said: “While cycling alone through wind and rain during the darkest hours of the night was incredibly difficult, the mental toll of the ride was the most demanding part of the challenge. But thinking about the generosity of the people that had sponsored me and sent messages of support really kept me going.
“I’m so proud to have been able to raise this significant amount of money for The Care Workers’ Charity, and know that every penny will be used to support carers that are facing their own difficult challenges.”
Presenting the £2,000 cheque during UK Care Week at the NEC in Birmingham, Ayesha Sadiq, Events Manager at The Care Workers’ Charity said: “Since 2020, The Care Workers’ Charity has issued over £3million in grants to support care workers in crisis. Now, more than ever, care workers must be valued and respected. If the social care workforce is appreciated, everyone benefits from those who draw on social care to family and friends.”
“To continue our essential support of care workers we need to continue to rely on the support of our supporter members, sponsors, and fundraisers. We are so grateful to those like David who help us raise essential funds,” continued Ayesha.
In its inaugural year, the 48-hour challenge was organised by YouTuber Riding the Long Way Home, otherwise known as Paul Berney, Chief Marketing Officer at connected care platform provider Anthropos.
No stranger to endurance rides, Paul conceived of Riding the Long Way Home in 2018 when he bought a new Bianchi bike and rode it home to London from Milan. Paul says of the 48-hour challenge: “first and foremost it’s intended to be a personal challenge. It’s you against you, not anybody else. It’s just you pushing yourself to see how far you can go in 48 hours. The idea is that the challenge is not just about how far you can ride physically, but how smart you are in planning in advance, so the race isn’t necessarily won by the strongest rider.”
Following the success of the challenge, plans are already in development for a bigger and more demanding competition next year.
David finished, “After the ride I thought I’d never want to get on a bike again! But I’m now thinking about next year – how we can raise even more money and how I can ride even further!”
