A group of cyclists left Brighton for Paris first thing this morning (Friday 6 May) as the Mayor’s Charity Bike Ride got under way.
The ride was organised by the Brighton and Hove Property Consortium and is raising money for the mayor’s charities – the Martlets Hospice, the Grace Eyre Foundation the Argus Appeal.
Mayor Lynda Hyde said that all three registered charities were reliant on fundraising to serve the community and improve the lives of local people.
She saw off the cyclists from the i360 on Brighton seafront at 6.45am where she was joined by Hove MP Peter Kyle.
Councillor Hyde said: “The housebuilding and property industry already does so much for the city’s economy.
“However, it is fantastic to see the property industry in the city focusing its efforts on raising substantial funding for three very worthwhile charities.”
The ride – from the i360 to the Eiffel Tower – is being sponsored by Oakley Property and supported by the Hyde Group and Colin Brace Properties among others.
Among those saddling up were riders from Lewis and Co Planning, Parks Lettings, Pilbeam Construction, law firm Coffin Mew, Woodhart Construction, Handelsbanken, LCE Architects and consultancy firm Robinson Low Francis.
The mayor of Brighton and Hove is due to greet the cyclists in Paris on Sunday 8 May at the Eiffel Tower. They are then due to attend a reception at the British Embassy.
Colin Brace said that he hoped he and his colleagues would raise about £30,000 for the mayor’s charities.
Mr Brace said: “The aim of the Brighton and Hove Property Consortium is to promote the benefits of housebuilding and the property sector within the city.
“This industry can sometimes get a very rough ride and this is an opportunity for the housebuilding and local property industry to give something back to the city by supporting these three worthwhile causes.
“The mayor hopes to make this an annual event, creating a valuable legacy for the Mayor’s Charities.
“We have a collective of property professionals who are keen to cycle that extra mile to support the city’s key charities.”
He added that for each new home built in Brighton and Hove, between four and five full-time jobs are supported.
Many local companies, jobs and apprenticeships are reliant on the housebuilding industry, he said, and this is a big driver for the city’s economy.
This, together with new council tax revenues, the new homes bonus and financial contributions from developers to build new community infrastructure brings a significant benefit to the area at a time of dwindling government funding.
Hyde Group development director Tom Shaw said: “As one of the largest housebuilders in the Greater Brighton city region, Hyde is delighted to be able to support fundraising for the Mayor’s Charities.
“Hyde’s development programme is calculated to make a £2.2 billion contribution to the UK economy over the next five years.
“A significant proportion of this investment will benefit the Greater Brighton city region’s economy, providing new homes and jobs.
“I look forward to cycling to support an initiative which will benefit three very worthwhile local charities which together put so much effort into supporting local people.”
Martlets Hospice events manager Antonia Shepherd said: “We are absolutely delighted that Colin and so many of his friends and colleagues from the Brighton and Hove Property Consortium and across the property industry are showing their support for the Mayor’s Charities by joining this fabulous fundraising cycle ride.
“At Martlets Hospice we rely on the local community to help us to raise the money that we need to look after our patients and their families.
“We are hugely grateful to everyone who is raising money on our behalf and would like to wish the team a very successful trip and good luck with their fundraising.”
“He added that for each new home built in Brighton and Hove, between four and five full-time jobs are supported.”
Really? How?