Cycling From Cheshunt To Texas Is A Fundraising Family Affair

Brothers Dave and Paul Richardson, of Ashbourne Insurance, have undertaken the grueling task of cycling to Port Isabel, Texas to raise money for the company’s charity of the year 2013, Isabel Hospice.

Paul, 30, and Dave, 23, must cycle EVERY day, for an hour and a half, at 30km per hour, in order to ‘arrive’ at their destination by Christmas Day. The challenge takes place on stationary bikes at Paul’s home in Hoddesdon where the miles are logged at the end of each exhausting session.

The brothers’ determination (coupled with some sibling rivalry!) has seen them so far cycle 4900km out of their 8230km target- a huge achievement and one that they are most proud of. Currently standing at 23% of their goal of raising £1000, Dave and Paul have the full support of Ashbourne Insurance behind them. Isabel Hospice is a charity close to everyone’s heart having provided services to Ashbourne customers, networking colleagues and staff over the years.

Paul Richardson commented, ”We were set a challenge by Sarah Smits, Ashbourne’s FD, to fundraise as much money as possible with a £20 challenge some months ago and we dreamt up this ‘cycling challenge’ that could raise a lot of money and help with my knee recovery after a recent operation at the same time – killing two birds with one stone! It’s great doing it with my brother and our dad, Keith Richardson has been brilliant acting as chief mechanic for the many maintenance issue we have faced. Isabel Hospice is such a worthy cause as well.”

Emma Lippiatt of Isabel Hospice said, “Ashbourne Insurance and its team from the local area have been so incredibly supportive and have really bought into the £20 Challenge which was launched earlier this year by the firm. This in turn is helping the hospice to reach its staggering target of £4.2 million that is required each year to continue to provide the various services to the highest standards that it does today.”

Here’s what other Ashbourne staff got up to with their £20 challenge ………
· Sue Catt- arranged a car wash in her local pub and raised £300
· Sue Hollis has been making cakes, sausage rolls, knitting a teddy for a raffle money raised so far £80 to date
· Emma – arranged a donation of Lola’s cupcakes which she sold in the office raising £150
· Jackie, Rob, Marianne, Richard, Louise gave donations from their families and held a car boot total raised £243
· Kiara ran the race for life in June Raising £127
· Joan organised a family golf day raising £140
· Matt raised £100 making sandwiches for the whole office
· Charlotte ran a 5K race sponsored by her friends and family £70 raised
· Kirsty, Dawn. Paige and Kiara raised £523 by a sponsored cycle ride
· Joe dressed as Super Mario for the day
· The Richardson’s brothers have raised £230 so far with a target of £1000

Isabel Hospice is a registered charity, which provides free care and support for patients and their families living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses throughout eastern Hertfordshire. The population they serve is almost 350,000 people. Founded in 1982 the Hospice provides a wide range of services including a 16 bed In-Patient Hospice in Welwyn Garden City, four Day Care Service locations in Welwyn Garden City, Bishop’s Stortford, Hoddesdon and Waltham Cross, a Home Care Team providing support and nursing care in patients’ homes, and a Family Support and Bereavement Service.

Isabel Hospice’s services are free of charge, and the cost of providing these services is budgeted at £4.2 million in 2013. Of this, they need to raise around £2.6 million from charitable sources.

Award winning, Ashbourne Insurance offers a wide range of business and personal insurance services along with a 24-hour claims advisory service. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

To make a donation to the Cross Atlantic Challenge for Isabel Hospice, please visit www.justgiving.com/richardsonbrothers or call Sarah Smits on 01992 471001