It’s helped boost the mental wellbeing of hundreds of emergency service workers through group cycle rides, it’s raised awareness of the incredible work fire service personnel do every day, and now Blue Light Cycling Club has donated a generous £2,000 to us – all within a year of launching.
The club, which is the UK’s first ever cycling club to support emergency service workers and armed forces, launched on May 4 last year and has grown and grown ever since.
It offers its members the chance to join regional, national and international group rides, with the aim of boosting their overall wellbeing, as well as offering them a string of exclusive deals. And it’s all in support of five worthy causes, including us.
Credit: Brian Duffy
In the last year alone, Blue Light Cycling Club has grown to have 600 members across the UK and it’s hosted several challenges and events including a 4-day ride last summer – starting from the National Police Memorial in London, through the counties of England and back to The Mall in London. They were joined by rugby legends Andy Goode, Austin Healey and Martin Johnson on the ride and spread awareness of the work our emergency services do every day to protect their communities.
The club has also taken part in Women’s and Men’s AJ Bell Tour of Britain events and has created its own web area, Hy-Light Zone, which curates mental wellbeing information into one spot for members.
Alongside us, Blue Light Cycling Club is also supporting Care of Police Survivors (COPS), Help for Heroes, NHS Charities Together and The Coastguard Association.
The club’s co-founder, Neil Turner, says: “As a club we are proud to be associated with The Fire Fighters Charity. We hope to reflect its core values in our own arena and wherever we can we will promote its great work to the emergency services and armed forces communities.”
Neil himself, along with another of the club’s co-founders, Dave Birch, will be taking on his own challenge this year too.
They will ride six times up and down Mont Ventoux to raise funds for all five causes. As there are six ascents, they have also added Pancreatic Cancer UK as a sixth charity on this occasion, with all funds then split between us.
To support their challenge, visit their fundraising page here.
Through its partnership with Endurance Zone, Blue Light Cycling Club offers its members discounts with major sports brands like Nike, Adidas, Giant, Reebok, Pelotan and more.
You can join the club from £29.99 a year to make the most of all the benefits. Visit www.bluelightcc.co.uk to find out more.
