Bike Volunteer outside of Smart Property Office. By Angelina Ortega.
By Angelina Ortega
“I am spinning my ass off, I am sweating like a pig!”
The Smart Property Group blows their £5000 donation goal out of the snow with the help of bikers around Cornwall in their “Race to the North Pole Charity Christmas Challenge”, raising over £5,900 with donations still rolling in!
On Thursday 11th December, Smart Property Group locations around Cornwall teamed up with local businesses, as well as tenants and contractors, to raise money for Young Lives Vs Cancer, Little Harbour, and Vranch House by completing 5000km (a ride to the North Pole) on spin bikes. With the aim of £5000, eager bikers showed up in their Christmas hats and jumpers, with an early start at 7am, taking 30-minute intervals all the way into the evening.
The Smart Property Group is an estate agency based in Cornwall; Penryn branch’s chosen charity was Young Lives Vs Cancer, using only three spin bikes to reach their mileage goal. Everyone who showed up helped to encourage others to participate or donate, sharing the “North Pole” venture online as well as partaking in holding the donations bucket out to passing pedestrians. Poppy, a property manager at the branch, helped set up the exciting event taking place on Penryn Bridge. “They [Young Lives Vs. Cancer] are all-round incredible. My partner was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a really rare type of cancer last year. He completed treatment in May and Young Lives Vs Cancer were a massive support to him.”
Many participants were pioneering throughout the challenge, taking on more than one 30-minute slot, with drivers honking and beeping in support as they drove by. Natasha, a bike volunteer representing Life’s A Beach Cafe, had described the activity as “a half an hour spin class”. By 11am, they had already raised around £3,400 across locations. Sammy, a lettings portfolio manager at the branch, was seen cheering on volunteers and colleagues as well as collecting donations from pedestrians. “It’s great to see people come together and be supportive of these difficult situations, because no matter where you are in life, there is always somebody that may not be as fortunate as you. So the more money that we raise, the more awareness that we raise, the better it will be for others involved. I just hope that we cycle the miles, raise the money and smash our target.”
The Smart Property Group posted their photos on social media of the completed charity challenge from all locations, thanking all volunteers and charities for their support, as well as giving big thanks to everyone that helped exceed their donation goal of £5000.
If you would like to donate or see how you can support any of the affiliated charities, head to their websites for more information:
Young Lives Vs Cancer: younglivesvscancer.org.uk
Little Harbour: chsw.org.uk or 01726 871 800
Vranch House Children’s Charity: www.vranchhouse.org