Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Employees from the Newmarket branch of builders merchant Ridgeons took part in a sponsored indoor cycle relay this week to raise money for East Anglian Air Ambulance, the Groups’ chosen charity of the year.
The employees sported donated jockey silks to cycle over 158 miles on an exercise bike in just one day, from 7am to 3pm, taking it in turns to ride five miles in a relay format while continuing to serve customers at the busy branch.
Sharon Rohn, counter sales at Ridgeons Newmarket, said: “We chose to adopt a jockey theme to celebrate the history of Newmarket, and decided on a distance of 158 miles as it’s the same distance between Newmarket and Cheltenham, another town known for its racing history.
“We picked the East Anglian Air Ambulance not just because it’s Ridgeons’ charity of the year, but because we personally feel that such a wonderful service needs as much support as possible. It’s an expensive service to run and at present receives no funding from the NHS, so we felt that we should do what we can to help.”
The impromptu cycling team comprising Sharon Rohn, Emma Thorne, Cathy Evans, Sarah Saggs, Carol Roberts, Emma Lawrence, Jenna Boud, Steve Sinclair and Roger Jenkins managed to raise approximately £9,000 for East Anglian Air Ambulance, with donations still coming in.
Rohn added: “It has been a wonderful and slightly surreal experience being kitted out in jockey silks and riding an exercise bike all day. We’ve all had a fantastic time and would like to thank Juddmonte Farms Ltd for donating an amazing £500 for the event, and Tindalls Stationery shop for helping us with the balloons and decorations.”
The jockey silks and the exercise bike donated by the Newmarket Jockey Club. Kitchen and Bathroom showroom adviser Emma Thorne cycled the furthest out of the nine employees; completing 35.9km over the course of the day.
