ABP Southampton Team
On Sunday 2nd June, a team of colleagues from Associated British Ports (ABP) Southampton completed the 100km around the Isle of Wight cycle challenge to raise money for ANDYSMANCLUB. The team raised £5,000, and donations are still coming in!
ANDYSMANCLUB is ABP Southampton's Charity of the Year, and colleagues across the Port have raised money for the charity since the beginning of the year. The cycling event, organised by the Port Operator's Engineering Team, included 17 cyclists from teams across the Port who committed to months of training. Two participants completed the challenge on a tandem bike named "Until the Cowes Come Home". The cyclists rode at different levels and split into natural cycling groups. "Until the Cowes Come Home" completed the course in 7.5 hours.
Tom Dynes, General Manager, ABP Southampton, said: "We had an absolutely fantastic day! We have raised a fantastic amount in sponsorship for ANDYSMANCLUB, and it was heartwarming to see colleagues from different departments, who don't often work together, unite for a common goal. The shared experience really brought us all together as a team. We were fortunate to have an incredible support team, who kept us fed, watered and motivated – we could have not achieved the challenge without their support. Thank you so much to all who donated.”
The success of the event was also due to the generous support of ABP’s partners. Red Funnel provided free passenger tickets to the cyclists and discounted tickets for the ABP support cars, while High Five, a company specialising in nutrition for sporting events, supplied gels and hydration powders free of charge. Stolen Goat, a cycling store in Hampshire, contributed a triathlon kit, which will be a prize in the next charity raffle to raise more funds for ANDYSMANCLUB.
Jacob Littlewood, Southampton Club Facilitator, said: "We are so proud to be working with ABP Southampton; in the first six months of the year, they have raised over £7,500 for ANDYSMANCLUB through quiz nights, tuck shops, the Southampton Marathon and now the Isle of Wight cycle event. We will use the funds to set up future clubs and support the clubs in the local area, including Southampton, Eastleigh, and Gosport."
Each year, ABP Southampton supports a charity of the year and aims to raise at least £10,000 through employee events and fundraising activities. Last year, the Port raised over £10,000 for Jean's House, part of Young Lives Vs Cancer, which provides a home-from-home facility close to Southampton Hospital for young cancer patients and their families.
