A team of employees from Rochdale based Zen Internet and Kingfisher Community Special School, have completed a charity Coast to Coast cycle challenge.
The team was made up of Zen Internet and Kingfisher riders, who took up the cycle challenge on 18th and 19th June. The team, who had very little cycling experience between them, rode from the south Esplanade in Morecambe on the Lancashire coast, to the Central Pier at Scarborough on the east coast, a total of 132 miles. The team are on target to raise over £4,000 for Zen's chosen charity, Kingfisher Community Special School.
The Kingfisher Community Special School is Oldham’s provision for primary aged children with severe and complex learning needs. Kingfisher ensures that the children receive the very best possible learning opportunities and make at least good progress. As such, the school strives to ensure that this happens through robust yet creative and innovative practice.
The team rode in pairs on each leg of the challenge. On day one the team took an overnight stop in the village of Masham, having covered 72 miles. Day two saw the team covering approximately 56 miles, with the Zen riders completing the remaining 4 miles into Scarborough together.
“This is the first time we have taken on this challenge and it was a chance for everyone to get involved, whether they were actually riding or simply donating online. Our most recent fundraising event was the Great Manchester run which raised over £2,000, with all proceeds going to Kingfisher", said Caroline Taylor, HR Director and Head of Zen’s Social and Charities Committee.
On the 20th July Zen is entering a team into the Great Manchester Swim in Salford Quays. This unique ‘dock to dock’ course is an unforgettable experience in the open water. The course begins in Dock 9 near The Lowry and MediaCityUK, traverses Mariners Canal and finishes one mile away at Dock 8 beside Salford Watersports Centre.
Zen raised over £9,000 for last year’s charity, Boomerang, the multi-sensory play centre in Bury. Zen is hoping to match or exceed this amount in 2013 for Kingfisher.