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Events that raise funds for AFTAID can be fun and rewarding - please tell us about yours...

ride2raise - the bike challenge - took place September 2010. Promoting cycling to community groups as a healthy and eco-friendly way to fundraise - while aiming to raise at least ten thousand pounds for distribution to a select number of deserving charities, including AFTAID.

The riders were... George Young, Richard King, Mike Pemberton, Adrian Mann, Ollie Kmiecik and they were supported by Julian Baker in the Land Rover. As a group they got on immediately and by the end it was like they'd been friends for years. This was illustrated perfectly when, on the last day, they made the long, spectacular climb out of Moffatt towards Edinburgh as a team and at an extremely strong pace, when perhaps earlier in the ride they might have been strung out across the mountain.

Everyone added something whether it was nutritional advice (Mike), navigation (Ollie) or bike ergonomics (Adrian). And Jules turned into the best support driver to be hoped for.

Regretably there was one low moment when George came off on Day 3 (mile 300) after a clash of riders. The diagnosis was a broken collarbone and morale was low for while as he could not continue. However, dedicating the ride to George and a fantastic trek across the North Yorkshire Moors lifted everyone's spirits.

The toughest day was Wednesday (Day 5) riding across the top of the Pennines from Newcastle to Dumfries. 103 miles, much of it climbing, and over 9 hours in the saddle! Even having to walk through a farm and across a couple of fields to get around a road closure that would have added another hour or so to the journey. Dinner and a beer that night were much needed!

But there was a lot more to the success of the challenge than just the riding.

The service given by the hotel partners was incredible. They couldn't do enough for the riders, from ice baths to special menus and the group had some cracking meals provided by another of the sponsors Little Chef.

The generosity of people en route was truly humbling, with people making donations at each hotel and along the way. The Arcadia Garden Centre at Newby even donated the cost of our lunch! It was also an honour to meet some of the recipients of our first batch of Charity Hero Awards. Some of their stories were very moving and the feats of fundraising remarkable.

ride2raise was organised by RAISE magazine (see our Business Support section), the UK's highest circulating community fundraising magazine and is supported by Club Together a leading association and social networking website for various groups.

Among the achievements of the endeavour was to "Reward local Charity Heroes and promote the causes and charities they support".

Full information on the 2010 project and the 2011event can be found at the ride2raise website which provides the details.

Witan Jardine

One of our business supporters during 2008 and 2009 aligned events throughout the year to raising both awareness and funds. Encouraging their staff to be involved in regular team events. They organised 'Charity Days' at work and encourage staff to participate, including:

* London to Brighton cycle ride
* JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge
* City Sevens Rugby

Supporting AFTAID throughout the year they have raised vital financial support for us, through various charity events.

- Donate - How you can help - Fundraising -
- Creating your legacy - Payroll giving - Company support -

CAN YOU HELP?

If you would like to become involved in our work either by fundraising, managing support in your locality, or have ideas to help us spread the word and help elderly people in need, please contact us here.

If you are organising an event which will benefit AFTAID, we can pre publicise it here and afterwards, publish a review - let us know... click here.

If you want some inspiration for fundraising events click here.

AFTAID welcome all contributions toward helping relieve the distress to older people caused by being poor. If you can organise a fundraising event, no matter the size, we will be happy to offer support where we can.

Just email your plans for the event by clicking here.