Leasedrive Velo team raises over £13,500 in London to Paris Bike Ride
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A team of 14 riders entered by Leasedrive Velo, one of the UK's largest independent privately-owned vehicle management groups, successfully completed a 250-mile charity bike ride between London and Paris in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care and in doing so smashed its fund-raising target of £5,000 by so far raising over £13,500 for the 60-year-old charity.
Team leader and commercial director of Leasedrive Velo, Roddy Graham said: "The sheer feeling of elation as we all rode up the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe was matched only by the fact that we knew when we set off from Parliament Square we had far exceeded our fund-raising expectations for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Currently, the figure stands at over £13,500 and we fully expect to have exceeded £14,000 by the time all the money comes in."
"The care Marie Curie, our nominated company charity since 2005, provides terminally-ill patients is simply unbelievable and has touched all those who have given so generously for this worthwhile cause. I cannot express enough my appreciation to all of our corporate sponsors and individual donors, to the support staff who accompanied us on our journey and, above all, to the riders who gave freely of their time and energy in completing the distance."
The Leasedrive Velo team started from London on Thursday June 19 and rode 68 miles to Folkestone. The longest day between Calais and Abbeville saw the team cover the greatest distance, 75 miles, and the most challenging terrain through the 'Seven Valleys'. Day three to Beauvais was 59 miles while the 48 miles of the final day saw a total distance covered of 250 miles between Parliament Square, London and the Arc de Triomphe, Paris.
Corporate sponsors were Leasedrive Velo, Thrifty Car & Van Rental, Dick Lovett, Reach, CHP Alfa, KFC, National Mobile Windscreens, Kwik-Fit Fleet, Intelligent Data Systems and Total Accident Management.
The riders were Roddy Graham, Ivor Johnson, Karen Bowen, Paul Newman, Matt Lenton, Patrick Lucas, Jeremy Snook, Chris Snook, Mark Ley, John Wilson, Edward Pigg, Richard Boyce, Richard Simmonds and Warren Calvert. The support crew consisted of Martyn Keefe, Steve Edwards, Sarah Simmonds and Claire Aitkinson.
Last-minute online donations to the Leasedrive Velo London to Paris Bike Ride in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care can be made by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/london-to-paris. Alternatively, please send a cheque made payable to 'Marie Curie Cancer Care' to Roddy Graham, Commercial Director at Leasedrive Velo, Crowthorne House, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3GA.
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Leasedrive Velo is the largest independent privately-owned vehicle management group in the UK and comprises two main operating divisions.
Leasedrive Velo Vehicle Management
Working in partnership with fleet managers, or delivering a complete outsourced service, Leasedrive Velo offers blue chip clients a range of bespoke fleet management services. Major investments in the finest asset management system and pioneering, flexible, web-based customer service technology have resulted in Leasedrive Velo offering customers a truly world class fleet management service capability.
Leasedrive Velo Rental Management
One of the largest short-term vehicle rental management companies in the UK, with access to an almost unlimited choice of vehicles and locations throughout the country, Leasedrive Velo Rental Management offers a simple and transparent pricing policy with no hidden surcharges. For rentals of 28 days or more, it offers the Stopgap mid-term vehicle rental solution. Rates are substantially reduced compared to daily rental.
The headquarters for Leasedrive Velo is at hi-tech offices at TRL in Wokingham. Leasedrive Velo is the winner of the 2006 Fleet News Award for 'Best Contract Hire/Fleet Management Company' the 2006 GreenFleet Award for 'Leasing/Rental Company of the Year', The 2007 and 2008 Thames Valley Business Awards for 'Business Management Team of the Year' and the 2007 ITM Award for 'Independent Vehicle Management Company'.
For further press information on Leasedrive Velo, contact:
Mr Jeremy Snook
JSPR Ltd
Telephone: 01488 670002
Mobile: 07957 867139
Facsimile: 01488 670008
E-mail: jeremy.snook@jspr.co.uk
Website: www.jspr.co.uk