8:00am Thursday 21st June 2012
By Richard Garfield
TWELVE intrepid cyclists set off on a 300-mile fundraising challenge from Barclays Bank in Market Place on Monday morning.
The bank staff who work at branches from across the South are peddling like mad, covering 60 miles a day in part to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
The five-day Southern Spartan 300 challenge will end tomorrow at Southampton General Hospital.
Money raised will go towards the construction of a new Teenage Cancer Trust 10-bed unit at the hospital, which will support young cancer patients.
Money will also go to support and maintain the newly opened unit at The Royal Marsden in Surrey, which supports young cancer patients aged 16-24.
The bankers got a good send off from the Mayor and Mayoress of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Martin Biermann and his wife Chansopha, along with 20-year-old Charlotte Adams – the face of Southern Spartan 300.
The 20-year-old was 13 when she was diagnosed with leukaemia. Now a picture of health, Charlotte said: “Having cancer as a teenager made me appreciate the smaller things in life and not take anything for granted.
“I can’t thank Barclays staff from across the South enough for taking part in this challenge as they are helping more young people like me.”
Victoria Pullen, community branch manager based at Barclays, in Market Place, said: “Barclays branches in Hampshire and Berkshire have been raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust for almost three years.
“Thirty-eight branches will be visited throughout the five days, but all 250 Barclays branches throughout our Southern region will be supporting the charity.
“They hope to raise £100,000 from the Southern Spartan 300 event and are calling on local residents to support their fundraiser by either donating money at our branches or by donating via text message.”
Half of the money raised from within the Berkshire Group of Branches, which includes Basingstoke, will go towards four other charities – Basingstoke’s St Michael’s Hospice, Thames Hospice Care, Reading Rowing Club and Lattitude Global Volunteering, To lend your support you can either donate £3 by texting the word BIKE to 70300 or donating loose change in the fundraising tin at a Barclays Bank branch.
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