More than 160 cyclists took part in an endurance bike ride through the Trough of Bowland to raise vital funds for the North West Air Ambulance.
The sponsored Sika Cycle event saw pedal-powered participants take on one of the three challenging routes – lasting 50, 80 and 100 miles – with each course weaving through the picturesque Forest of Bowland.
The routes had been set to give the riders – made up of Sika employees, suppliers and customers – a glorious view of the area in which the NWAA operates. The charity plays an essential role in the Trough of Bowland by rapidly taking advanced healthcare to remote or hard to reach parts of the region.
Flying more than 2,000 missions a year, the NWAA dramatically improves the chances of survival, and reduces the risk of long term injury for many of the critically injured patients they attend.
The cycling was followed by a charity auction in which Joanna Rowsell Shand, part of gold-medal winning Team GB at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games was guest of honour.
In total, this year’s Sika Cycle event raised £9,962 for the NWAA, enabling the charity to purchase an OXYLog 3000 Ventilator, a specialist piece of equipment that will help them provide life-saving treatment.
Dragan Maksimović, General Manager at Sika, presented Lynne Whittaker, Regional Fundraiser at NWAA, with a cheque at Sika’s Preston site on Thursday, 26 October.
Mark Gatrell, Head of Research and Development for Sika in the UK, said: “I’d like to congratulate the 160 cyclists from across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe who took part in our fifth Sika Cycle event, helping to make it such a huge success and raise vital funds for the NWAA. We were delighted that so many Sika employees, suppliers and customers gave up their free time to take part in the event.
“We have been overwhelmed by the great feedback and the number of people who have expressed an interest to take part in next year’s event.”
Lynne Whittaker added: “North West Air Ambulance feels extremely privileged to have been Sika’s chosen charity for this event and are very grateful for their support. We would like to thank Sika for inviting us to attend the weekend and have the opportunity to meet so many employees, suppliers and customers who have given so generously.”
Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protecting in the building sector and automotive industry.
For more information visit www.sika.co.uk/everyday
