Yorkshire Cycle Team Set Themselves a New Challenge

Yorkshire Cycle Team Set Themselves a New Challenge

18 January 2011

A team of cyclists fielded by the South Yorkshire based retail developers Dransfield Properties Ltd have raised nearly £50,000 for three charities after covering an impressive 326 miles cycling from Marseille in France to Portofino in Italy.

The money is being divided between three charities – Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, The Children’s Foundation in Newcastle and The Children’s Hospital in Sheffield.

Representatives of the twenty strong team attended a special presentation at Ryegate House at the Childrens Hospital in Sheffield to see what the £15,574 they’d raised would be spent on there.

And to help the donation go that little bit further they’ve offered their muscle for the weekend to help complete the refurbishment of the waiting area, gym and meeting room which the money is being spent on.

The Therapy Block at Ryegate is the home of the physiotherapy, occupational therapy and hydrotherapy services for children with disabilities in Sheffield.

Each year it is the place where over 3000 treatment sessions are provided for disabled children and where more than 200 new children, having been diagnosed with a disability, come to meet the team to start their rehabilitation.

Mark Dransfield, managing director of Dransfield Properties Ltd, said: “When we came to present the cheque and have a look at the Ryegate House therapy block we saw just how much this money is needed.  

“We all felt that we could help the money go that little bit further by offering to work on the project ourselves for the weekend and ensure every penny we’ve raised is spent on raw materials.

“Many of us work in the construction industry and we are looking forward to rolling our sleeves up and spending a weekend refurbishing the therapy block. We know ourselves how hard it can be to raise funds for charity so we really want to try and make every penny count.”

A weekend has been set aide in March when the team will work a 48 hour shift and the company’s architects, Chesterfield based WCEC, are already working on the plans.

Senior Fundraiser at The Children’s Hospital in Sheffield, Simon Athey, said: "We are thrilled to receive such wonderful support once again from Dransfield Properties and all the guys who took part in the cycle ride. The money raised for our Ryegate Centre is a fantastic amount!

“To then hear of the plans to give the place a 48 hour 'makeover' was truly amazing! The weekend will be a brilliant example of people working together to make a real difference. On behalf of all the patients and staff at Ryegate I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone. I am looking forward to digging out my paint brush and overalls to join Mark and the guys for a busy couple of days in March!!"

Funds from the bike ride have also been donated to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research where it will be spent on research projects in Yorkshire. And at the Children’s Foundation in the North East the money has gone towards the company’s pledge to raise £30,000 for a piece of equipment.

Known as the MAMILS (Middle Aged Men in Lycra) the team completed the charity cycle ride in September last year. It’s the fourth time they’ve taken up the challenge setting off in 2007 from London to Paris, followed by Paris to Lyon then Lyon to Marseille before embarking on the coastal route between Marseille and Portofino.

Later this year the team will embark on the next leg of their challenge cycling from Portofino to Rome with the long term aim of getting back to Tower Bridge in London by 2020.

Pictured left to right with Theo Bear are: Mark Dransfield, Tim Downing, Paul Singleton and Will Downing.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk