Beverley Building Society’s ‘Coast to Coast’ themed exercise bike challenge raises £2,562.28 for its Charity of the Year 2023!

The team at Beverley Building Society recently turned into competitive cyclists during the week of the 2nd to the 6th of October 2023, as they brought back their trusty exercise bike for a serious in-branch, charity cycling marathon.

Response was absolutely overwhelming as generous Society members gave willingly to the increasingly weighty donation buckets. There were also much valued contributions to the firm’s Dove House Just Giving page, which maintains a running total for the 2023 Charity of the Year Campaign. In total the event raised £1,281 by the end of the week!

But the Society didn’t stop there - as with previous initiatives, they decided to match-fund it, which achieved a final total of £2,562 for Dove House Hospice!

The BBS Bike Challenge is in its second consecutive year and the latest in a programme of activities for the Society’s 2023 Charity of the Year Campaign, in aid of Dove House Hospice. It follows the team’s fundraising entry in the Charity’s It’s A Knockout event in July, which raised £800.

Staff at the East Riding’s only traditional mutual, cycled as fast as they could, relay-style to hit the initial target of 340 miles (the equivalent distance of the well-known Way of the Roses ‘Coast to Coast’ route (from Bridlington to Morecambe) and back. However, team BBS reached this early and, to boost donations, kept going to achieve a total of 467 miles by the end of the week!

Beverley Building Society is eternally grateful to everyone who has supported the Exercise Bike Challenge, particularly considering most peoples’ finances are stretched, due to the on-going cost of living crisis.

Supporters will be reassured to know that their valuable contributions will be helping Dove House Hospice to continue providing expert specialist care to adults living with progressive life limiting illnesses and their families.

Illnesses include, but are not limited to, cancer, neurological illnesses, heart diseases and respiratory diseases. Patients don’t just visit for end-of-life care either but are referred to the hospice for many reasons. These include pain and symptom management, respite, psychological support, and family support. As the Dove House team says, it’s to help: “life to be added to days when days can no longer be added to life”.

“It’s unbelievable to think that, despite the vital contribution that Dove House Hospice provides to society, it must rely almost entirely on donations for its survival.” the Beverley’s Marketing Manager, Debbie Connolly, told us, adding: “I’m blown away by the amount raised because of the generosity of our wonderful local community! This is the second year we’ve held a charity bike challenge because it’s a great way to raise public awareness and much needed funds for fantastic cause. We’ve also met some lovely people and got a little fitter in the process, so it was a no brainer!”

Jethro Shearing, Senior Fundraiser for Dove House Hospice, concluded:

“We are so grateful to the amazing staff at Beverley Building Society who have shown an incredible passion and commitment to help make a difference from the first day of the charity partnership. Whether volunteering their time, or taking on challenges, they have gone above and beyond in everything they have done.

“A huge thank you to all the staff members involved in the cycle challenge, along with those customers who so kindly donated and have supported the branch so well, not just through this challenge, but throughout the year. You have all helped to make a truly special difference, allowing for special memories to be made in even the most difficult of times.”

Dove House Hospice’s new Corporate Partnerships representative, Jonny Bottomley, said:

“For me it shows just how connected the Society and its team are with the local community. Without the support that they have been able to encourage from the community, Dove House would not be able to provide the services that are so vitally needed. Thank you.”

Beverley Building Society’s Charity of the Year 2023 Campaign continues until the end of December. You can still get involved by donating branch, or online at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bbs4dovehouse

Whatever you can give, you will be helping to make sure that more families create happy memories together and get the care and support they need.

Keep an eye on the Society’s social media to see what else is planned to support Dove House for the rest of the year. Alternatively for information on Beverley Building Society’s products and services visit:https://beverleybs.co.uk/