A documentary film about the Mayor’s Charity Bike Ride was given its premiere at the Brighton Big Screen on the seafront yesterday evening (Thursday 7 July).
The bike ride, from the i360 to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, raised £30,000 for the mayor’s charities – the Martlets Hospice, the Grace Eyre Foundation the Argus Appeal.
It was organised by the Brighton and Hove Property Consortium, many of whose members turned out to see the premiere of the film by local cameraman William Ranieri.
Among those present for the screening was Councillor Lynda Hyde, who was mayor of Brighton and Hove and who officially started the cyclists off in May along with Hove MP Peter Kyle.
She was joined yesterday by the current mayor Pete West. Councillor West is a keen cyclist and may take part in the ride next year.
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.”
She said that all three registered charities were reliant on fundraising to serve the community and improve the lives of local people.
The ride was 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.
Colin 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.
Before the ride 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.”
