Cairngorm Mountain Bike Challenge raises over half a million pounds for charity
Howard Lake | 11 September 2008 | News
Some 540 colleagues from Bank of Scotland Corporate raised almost £600,000 for CLIC Sargent and two other charities when they participated in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Cairngorm Mountain Bike Challenge on Saturday 8 September. Of the 540 participants, over 300 completed the 110km Gold Route.
The event raised money for the HBOS Foundation’s Million £ Challenge, which this year will make substantial donations to CLIC Sargent, Age Concern and Diabetes UK.
The HBOS Foundation are match-funding every pound raised by the competitors in the Cairngorm Mountain Bike Challenge. The competitors have already collected well over £250,000, with the money still left to come in expected to push that figure nearer £300,000. The HBOS Foundation’s match-funding will bring the total raised to almost £600,000.
Peter Cummings, Chief Executive of Bank of Scotland Corporate, was at the event supporting the teams. Peter said: “I continue to be extremely impressed with the commitment of Bank of Scotland Corporate colleagues to fundraising activities like this one. It was a great day, and I could scarcely think of a better cause than CLIC Sargent.
“Everyone who made the weekend such a success – from the organisers to the participants – should be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”
Carole Easton, Chief Executive of CLIC Sargent added: “Staff at HBOS have worked tirelessly throughout the year to raise more than £1.5m for CLIC Sargent which will go directly in to supporting CLIC Sargent services. On behalf of all the children, young people and families who are living with cancer we would like to say a special thank you to all those employees who jumped on their bike this weekend to take part in The Cairngorm Mountain Bike Challenge.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The Bank of Scotland Corporate Cairngorm Mountain Bike Challenge took place on Saturday 5th September. The 12 hour challenge took participants off road through the picturesque highland scenery around Aviemore. There were 3 different routes – the 60km Bronze Route, 84km Silver Route and 110km Gold Route. Of the 540 participants, over 300 attempted the Gold Route. Each route started at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort, taking in the beautiful forests of Rothiemurchus and Glenmore Forest Park, and finished at Loch Morlich.
The HBOS Foundation (www.hbosfoundation.org) was established in May 2002, following the merger of Halifax and Bank of Scotland to create HBOS plc. The Foundation operates as an independent company and works with charitable and ‘not-for-profit’ organisations across the UK, supporting people and their local communities. Million £ Challenge charities are voted for by HBOS colleagues – this year they chose CLIC Sargent as charity of the year, with fundraising over £1m being divided between CLIC Sargent, Age Concern and Diabetes UK. In addition, the HBOS Foundation is committed to working with colleagues throughout the HBOS group who want to put something back into their local communities, either through fundraising for local charities or volunteering. In 2007, over 10,000 colleagues volunteered their time and skills for charities and good causes. The HBOS Foundation is a registered charity No.SCO32942.
CLIC Sargent (www.clicsargent.org.uk) is the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity. Every day in the UK, 10 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia. CLIC Sargent acts as a lifeline keeping families together when the unimaginable happens. We provide clinical, psychosocial, emotional and financial care and support to them and their families.
Note to Sub Editors: Please note that the name ‘CLIC Sargent’ should not be abbreviated to CLIC, and that the word ‘CLIC’ should always appear in capitals, as above.
For further information, contact:
Andy Maciver
Senior Media Relations Officer
Bank of Scotland Press Office
0131 243 7016
Or
Kat Forse
Senior Press Officer
CLIC Sargent
0117 314 8620
ka*******@cl*********.uk
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.