Gearing up to make a difference

and Events Fundraising Manager Angela Carlucci introduces this year’s RideLondon-Essex challenge

ON Sunday 28 May, cyclists will once again be gearing up to ride 100 miles of traffic-free roads and raise money for The Salvation Army.

For the second successive year, the centrepiece of the RideLondon-Essex cycling festival will start and finish in central London and include a loop of the Essex countryside. Those taking part will range from beginners to professionals. Among them will be Team Sally Army champions raising funds to help people in need by supporting the work of the Army. The funds raised can go towards any project or corps.

Last year, Joe Beattie cycled 100 miles in aid of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Department.

‘I grew up in The Salvation Army and I continue to go to services on Sunday and play in the band,’ he explains. ‘In October, our son, Michael, flew the nest and went to university, but before he went, he spent a couple of months working in the department.

I was amazed and troubled to find out that modern day slavery is a big issue in the UK today and people – the majority of whom are women – are bought and sold for as little as £500 to go into the sex trade, forced labour, domestic service and criminal activity, or to have their organs removed to be sold.

‘Sometimes I feel sorry for myself when things don’t go to plan in my personal life or at work, but when I read about the plight of these modern-day slaves, my heart weeps and the least I could do is cycle 100 miles to raise money and awareness.’

Tony Street took on the challenge two years in a row, raising money for the Stotfold Corps minibus, It provides transport for members of the community who may otherwise struggle to get out and about, as well as transport for youth events.

Applications for the event are now open, with the Community and Events Fundraising team available to provide support. For corps looking to take part, the team can offer posters and social media posts to help find participants, as well as handle all the admin.

‘The Salvation Army are the unsung heroes,’ says Simon Robertshaw, a postman from Twickenham who took part in the challenge. ‘They don’t make a song and dance about it; they just get on with it! Locally you just pick up the pieces, and that’s important because somebody has to do that.’