Building society raises over a 'grand' for Yorkshire Air Ambulance

Generous folk including elite cyclists, staff, and even a renowned playwright have helped Beverley Building Society raise £1,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the official Tour De Yorkshire charity, by cycling nearly 700 miles on a static exercise bike.

And one lucky customer is also celebrating after bagging a new bicycle in the Society's Tour De Yorkshire free prize draw, run in conjunction with Beverley's Minster Cycles shop.

"We started our campaign to support the Tour and its official charity in early April, and we didn't realise just how popular it would be," said Beverley Building Society Chief Executive Karl Elliott.

The Society set a target of cycling 597miles, the total distance of the Tour De Yorkshire's men's and women's races combined, on a static bike inside the branch in Beverley town centre.

Karl added: "We promised to donate 50p for every mile covered and were amazed to beat what seemed like a pretty daunting goal by almost 100 miles!"

Members of the public donated an extra £400 in cash, and the Air Ambulance's status as the Society's ‘charity of the month' made it eligible for an additional £250, taking the total to £1,000. The money will be handed over to Yorkshire Air Ambulance imminently.

Then, our generous bike competition winner, Jennifer Howden, donated £50, bringing the overall total to £1050.

"We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone, including our own team of staff, our customers, and Tour competitors Team Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Vélo, who launched the campaign," said Karl. "Everyone really got behind it throughout the whole month. The actual big day for Beverley at the start of the Tour was a fantastic experience. We were out on the street giving away free water bottles and money boxes, there was a brilliant community atmosphere and it felt very rewarding to be a part of the whole thing."

A familiar face - and big cycling fan - also took a turn on the bike to support the good cause. Playwright John Godber OBE and his daughter Elizabeth took time out from their new production Seasons in the Sun to notch up a worthy 14 miles. The play, written and directed by John with Elizabeth as Stage Manager, was on show at Beverley's East Riding Theatre at the time.

The Society also ran a free prize draw on social media and in the branch throughout the campaign and Jennifer, from Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, was the lucky winner of a bike worth £500 from Minster Cycles, based in Norwood.

Pictured here with Minster Cycles owner Peter Goldthorpe, she chose a stylish and functional Pashley bicycle!

The retired teacher, who volunteers in the Dove House Hospice shop in Market Weighton, popped into branch before picking her bike, to make her donation. She said: "I'm really delighted to have won such a lovely bike and I'll make sure it gets put to good use, helping me zip from A to B in the village!"

Peter added: "It was our pleasure to support the Society's Tour de Yorkshire campaign and great to see such a deserving bike winner and so much money raised for such a good cause".

Helen Callear, North Yorkshire Fundraising Manager from Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: "We were absolutely delighted to be chosen as this year's official Tour de Yorkshire charity and for the fantastic support we received from local businesses along the route.

"The Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides life-saving emergency service to the whole of Yorkshire and the donations we receive really are the life blood of the charity. We'd like to thank all the staff and customers who got involved for their support."