Local business support for Derwen Charity Spinathon

Staff and students at Gobowen-based Derwen College are asking the community to get behind a demanding and strenuous bike challenge to raise funds to support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Two Derwen College sports instructors will be completing a formidable 24-hour spinning session from 10am 24 to 10am 25 March. They will be joined in their challenge by students, staff, supporters and local businesses who will be pedalling alongside them, embarking on their own personal challenges; with some joining for an hour, while others will rise to the challenge of the full 24 hours.

Sports coordinators Sian Thomas and Steve Evans first took on a non-stop spinathon last year raising £8,000 for Derwen Charity. The challenge, they say, was only made possible due the continuous support of students, staff and supporters. Local businesses joined the event offering sponsorship and entering teams.

Fundraising coordinator Anna Evans thanked everyone who supported Derwen Charity last year, and said she was looking forward to even more people joining in for the 2023 challenge.

“We’re pleased to see returning local businesses and excited to welcome new organisations too. Support can be through sponsorship packages, donations of raffle prizes, or by entering as an individual or as a team. All the money raised helps support students with SEND, providing opportunities for our students to truly progress and thrive,” she said.

Sports instructor Sian Thomas admitted that last year’s challenge was hard.

She said: “The struggle was real, especially in the small hours of the morning, but we all got through it, and the event was hugely successful. We had an amazing support team, and were joined through the day and night by friends, family, colleagues and students. Our supporters were the motivation and the inspiration to keep going.

“All the money raised helps support our students with SEND, providing extra experiences and opportunities for our students to reach and exceed what they and others thought possible.”

For more information on supporting the Spinathon contact 01691 661234, email Sian at sian.thomas@derwen.ac.uk or Anna at anna.evans@derwen.ac.uk. www.derwen.ac.uk/charity/