Transaid Cycle Challenge takes FTA's fundraising total past the £100k mark

Tuesday 13 September 2011

The Freight Transport Association Transaid Cycle Challenge 2011, which took place this summer, has exceeded its fundraising target of £50,000 for international development charity Transaid. Along with £50,000 already presented to Transaid in April from the FTA membership renewals scheme, this means a total sum of over £100,000 has been raised.

The 14-day cycle ride around the UK took place in June and was organised by FTA to raise vital funds and awareness for Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Project, which is helping to save lives on Africa’s roads through the training of truck and bus driver trainers. The marathon challenge was led by FTA President Stewart Oades, who cycled around the UK, accompanied through each FTA region by a local team.

Stewart Oades, FTA President said:

“Enormous thanks must go to the whole FTA community which engaged to raise this magnificent sum, particularly the regional chairmen who encouraged their committees to fund raise and participate, and to the FTA staff and management who promoted, organised and then participated in the ride. Special thanks go to FTA’s Nikki Skegg who worked tirelessly to organise the event and then rode every mile.

“The generous contributions and support from Britain’s leading logistics companies and their suppliers and many private donations made the event and the sum raised possible. FTA's £100,000 donation is an enormous sum for Transaid and will make a major difference, and my thanks go to all those staff and members who contributed.”

Transaid CEO Gary Forster said:

“We are delighted that the challenge has been such a huge success and are extremely grateful to Stewart and his team and to everyone who got involved and supported the event.

Road deaths are set to become one of the leading killers globally by 2020 but we know they can be prevented through practical solutions like driver training. Thanks to FTA and industry-wide support we have expanded our work from Zambia into Tanzania and we will continue to work on finding the solutions so people no longer die needlessly.”

Inspired by this event? Check out Transaid’s forthcoming Cycle Madagascar at www.transaid.org

Notes for editors

In April 2011 FTA presented Transaid with a cheque for £50,000 which was donated by FTA members when paying their annual FTA membership renewal fees since January 2010.

The FTA Transaid Cycle Challenge 2011, which took place in June, raised a total of £51,575.15 for Transaid as well as £5,341.43 for a variety of local charities around the UK.

Transaid is now recruiting participants for its annual Cycle Africa challenge which will be in Madagascar next June.

For further information or a photo of the Cycle Challenge event please contact FTA’s media team on 01892 552255/01892 552253 or, out of hours, on 07818 450425.

For further information on Transaid, visit www.transaid.org or contact Chantelle Cummings on 020 7387 8136.
 

FTA Press Office

01892 552255
press.office@fta.co.uk