Olleco chief in 900km cycle for charity

Robert Behan, chief executive of the organics recycling company, will be part of a seven-strong team attempting the Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps – an annual cycling event from Geneva to Venice between 5-11 September.

The event will see Mr Behan and his team cover a distance of 900 kilometres and brave their way up some of the highest climbs in Europe, reaching heights of 21,000 metres.

Charities

They are undertaking the challenge in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities UK and Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland, independent charities provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children in hospital.

Mr Behan is taking on the challenge in memory of his wife, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Since then he has found solace in the ‘encouragement and support’ of his team mates, as together they have taken on one-day endurance events average 175km and 4,500 metres of climbing.

Mr Behan said: “The two charities I have chosen help give families hope and respite during some of the hardest moments of their lives. By giving them a place to stay, where they can maintain a degree of normal life while their child is undergoing medical treatment in hospital nearby, is a life-line, particularly for those who live a distance away.”

Olleco

Olleco – the renewable division of the ABP Food Group – has committed to match the first £50,000 raised on a pound-for-pound basis.

The two charities I have chosen help give families hope and respite during some of the hardest moments of their lives

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Robert Behan, chief executive
Olleco

The firm has had a long partnership with McDonald’s, of which Ronald McDonald’s House Charities has been its ‘charity of choice’ for many years, through providing ‘100%’ resource recovery for the restaurant business.

Jon Haward, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities, added: “We are privileged to have in our wider family such wonderful partners who go that extra mile to help us. We know that every penny will be well spent, as the need for accommodation so that families can stay close to their children in hospital far outstrips supply, and we are having to expand to keep pace.

“We wish Robert and his team every success and thank him most sincerely for putting this extreme challenge above his own personal loss to help others in difficult times.”

Donations to Robert can be made on his JustGiving page here.