Preston hospice receives £12,000 after local firm’s 8,000 mile cycle challenge

Representatives of the Factory to Festival ride pose with the £12k cheque donated to St Catherine’s

St Catherine’s Hospice has received a donation of £12,000 after a Leyland Trucks cycling fundraiser.

Over 110 novice riders and cycling enthusiasts from the company took part in this year’s Factory to Festival challenge. The riders took on one of three routes – 30, 80 or 115 miles – and covered a combined distance of 8,000 miles.

Matt Kersey, chairman of the Helping Hand Committee at Leyland Trucks, said: “Our first bike ride was just 11 people, so to see more than 100 riders saddle up this year was truly inspiring.

“Our entire workforce and much of Lancashire feels a close affinity to St Catherine’s, which shows with the record turnout.”

Norman Cutler, senior community engagement officer at St Catherine’s Hospice, said: “From everyone at St Catherine’s, we want to say a huge thank you to those who took part in the Factory to Festival challenge and to all those who have sponsored and helped to raise such an incredible amount of money.

“It costs £5.6million each year to run our services and we must raise £3.8million of that from fundraising events like these. We’ve a total of 19 beds within the hospice where we care for people living with life-shortening illnesses, but our reach stretches throughout the local community via our specialist nurses that visit patients within their own homes.

“We couldn’t afford to do this without the support of our amazing communities like the staff at Leyland Trucks. Everyone involved is helping so many people that they don’t know and will never meet, and for that, they deserve a big pat on the back.”

The total amount raised was over £16,000, with the rest of the funds being split between a number of other local charities and causes.

To donate, visit the Factory to Festival JustGiving page.

What do you think of the cycle challenge and the amount raised? Let us know in the comments below.