SITA UK in 2,400 mile charity cycle challenge

The Big Ride cycle relay will depart from one of the waste firms most northern sites in Stoneyhill, Aberdeenshire on Monday (May 12) and will finish six weeks later at its most southerly facility in St Erth, Cornwall on June 20.

Nearly 300 members of SITA UKs staff, from collection crews to board members will complete the cross-country journey in relay legs which snake between 100 of its facilities across the UK. letsrecycle.coms features editor Amy North will also be donning her helmet to join in on a 19 mile leg from Kensington & Chelsea to Barking on June 5.

Participants have been able to sign up to ride as many legs as they want with some opting to cycle over 300 miles of the total journey. Legs range from three to 100 miles. All participants have been given a day off work to participate in the event, as part of SITA UK’s Giving Something Back pledge.

The winding route, designed to include as many of SITA UKs facilities as possible, makes the journey almost three times as long as the traditional Lands End to John OGroats cycle route of 874 miles.

SITA UKs chief executive David Palmer-Jones will be riding a 27 mile leg from Aylesbury to the companys head office in Maidenhead on June 5. Commenting on the event he said: Unfortunately, cancer is something that affects us all, which is why, as a company, we have chosen to give something back by attempting to raise enough money to fund a Macmillan nurse for a whole year.

We decided on The Big Ride because we wanted to stage an event that would encourage collaboration between our numerous sites, include a large majority of our nearly 6,000 strong workforce in one way or another and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Macmillan

SITA UK chose Macmillan Cancer Support as its national charity in 2013 and has so far raised nearly 20,000 for the cause, by holding various events throughout the last year – like pyjama parties, male leg waxing and bake sales.

Macmillan fundraising manager for East Berkshire and North East Hampshire, Jan Harris added: “We are absolutely thrilled that SITA UK nominated Macmillan as their chosen charity. Since the beginning, everyone at SITA UK has been brilliant and the bike ride is just one awesome way everyone has got behind the idea of making a difference, by helping people affected by cancer.

The target of 50,000 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for a year these wonderful nurses give people living with cancer the emotional and practical support they need through one of the hardest times of their lives.