Alitex employees gear up to take on Le Loop fundraising cycle challenge
Team members from the leading bespoke greenhouse brand, Alitex, are set to take on a mammoth 225km cycle challenge this June to help raise funds for the William Wates Memorial Trust.
The Le Loop cycling event, which was created in 2006 to help keep disadvantaged young people away from a life of crime and violence, sees riders take on the infamous route of the Tour de France one week before it takes place.
This year, 26 employees at Alitex, including owner of the company Tom Hall, will be taking on stages six and seven of the route covering over 225km in a bid to raise £30,000 for the charity. The money raised will help fund initiatives like boxing clubs and children's groups across London, Hampshire, and Surrey to create positive change in local communities and encourage young people to fulfil their potential.
A passionate cyclist, Tom first got involved in the challenge when he joined a friend for a couple of stages during the 2010 event. Having participated in the event since 2012, every year Tom encourages the Alitex team to join him on the mission. This time, he will be joined by employees from a variety of departments across the company including Senior Sales Designers Mark Cooper and James Whittle, Head of Finance Lucy Forbes, Head of Marketing Tash Crowe, and Learning and Development Coordinator Jo Lee. Each employee’s decision to take part stems from a variety of motivations, from seeking a personal challenge or achieving a fitness goal to honouring loved ones.
"Le Loop is about more than just cycling, it's about pushing your limits, supporting a great cause, and coming together as a team,” said Tom Hall, owner of Alitex. “When I first got involved with Le Loop in 2010, I was immediately struck by the camaraderie amongst the other cyclists and the personal reward I felt from long-distance cycling.
“After recognising the incredible impact that taking on a challenge of this nature had on me, I invited my employees at Alitex to join me, hoping it would encourage an even greater sense of unity within the company and promote the importance of personal growth and well-being outside of work. It's immensely empowering to witness the determination among our team as we all prepare for the event, and I am immeasurably proud of everyone taking part.
“Of course, at the heart of the challenge is raising vital funds for such a worth cause. Since our first participation in 2013, I am thrilled to share that Alitex has raised over £5 million for the William Wates Memorial Trust."
In preparation, the Alitex team completed a practice ride around the Isle of Wight on 7th June, covering an impressive 65 miles This initial challenge was set to drum up extra donations, prepare the team for the demands of cycling extreme distances and motivate them as they gear up for the main event at the end of the month.
Alitex has also been hosting a number of fundraising activities to drive donations from friends, family and the local community, from pub quizzes and car washes to an eBay auction and summer fete.
Follow along with Alitex's Le Loop journey on social media and join them in supporting this important cause. Donate to the cause by visiting Alitex’s fundraising page here.
To find out more about Alitex and Le Loop, visit www.alitex.co.uk and www.rideleloop.org.