24-Hour Virtual Cycle raises £27,000 for charity!

In November last year, 4Com staff took on a 24-Hour Virtual Cycle challenge to raise money for our chosen charities, MYTime Young Carers and Alzheimer’s Society.

Over 100 members of staff took part throughout the 24 hours, smashing the original target of cycling the distance from Paris to Bournemouth. Incredibly, Team 4Com managed to cycle from Paris to Bournemouth, then BACK to Paris and almost BACK to Bournemouth…again!

Money has been raised via donations from the 4Com Foundation for every kilometre cycled, 4Com staff salary contributions, and funds from our JustGiving page which were generously match-funded by the 4Com Foundation. In total, we raised £27,000, with each charity receiving £13,500!

We have had some great local news coverage from the 24-Hour Virtual Cycle with articles in the Bournemouth Daily Echo, Dorset Biz News, Business in Dorset and House & Lifestyle magazine (page 9).

Krista Cartlidge and Wendy King from MYTime Young Carers, along with Siân Johnson from Alzheimer’s Society, came to the 4Com head office in Bournemouth to accept a cheque for their respective charities.

Executive Director at MYTime, Krista Cartlidge, said:

“This is incredible! Thank you so much and a huge congratulations to everyone that took part! We are already planning a young carers day out on the 30th January to spend some of the money you have raised. This money will also help us continue to provide crucial support to young carers from across Bournemouth.”

She added, “MYTime offer young carers the chance to have a break at our Outdoor Centre in Worth Matravers, Dorset. These breaks are an opportunity for young carers to have fun, make friends and to take some time for themselves, helping combat the loneliness young carers report feeling as a result of their caring responsibilities.”

You can watch a short video interview here with Krista who kicked off the virtual cycle event, as she explains why the money raised is so important to this local Dorset charity.

Siân Johnson, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society in Dorset and Somerset said:

“We were delighted to be one of 4Com’s chosen charities for their 24-Hour Virtual Cycle. I want to thank everyone who took part and raised over a staggering £13,000 to help us beat dementia. One person every three minutes develops dementia and there is currently no cure. In the next ten years dementia in Dorset and Somerset is set to almost double so the money raised will make a huge difference.”

She added, “Alzheimer’s Society is committed to spending over £150 million pounds in the next decade on research and we are currently the only charity that funds research into the care and cure of dementia. I cannot thank everyone who took part enough. Together we will beat dementia!”

You can also watch our short video here of Siân explaining about the fantastic work Alzheimer’s Society does and how the money we have donated can help those affected by dementia.

Charity work is a central theme to everything we do at 4Com, with well over £250,000 donated to local and national charities since 2014.