BCF announces new industry charity cycle event to raise funds for four UK cancer charities

BCF announces new industry charity cycle event to raise funds for four UK cancer charities

The BCF are hosting their first ever charity bike ride for the UK coatings industry to raise money for four charities chosen by BCF members. The event ‘BCF’s Charity Cycle: Ride Warwickshire’ is taking place on Friday 7^th June 2019 and will start at the Chesford Grange in Kenilworth, and extend through the scenic countryside and villages of Warwickshire. The BCF hopes to raise £5,000 each for Bowel Cancer UK, Keech Hospice Care, Lymphoma Action and The Christy Hospital Manchester for Ovarian Cancer Research.

The selected charities are very close to the BCF’s heart as their members have nominated them. Keech Hospice Care nominated by Gary Coniam, Owatrol Coatings, is a registered charity that services Beds, Herts & Bucks by providing care to both children and adults who have life-limiting illnesses.  Some of the services that they provide are end-of-life care, residential respite, music therapy, art therapy, bereavement counselling among many other services. Lymphoma Action, nominated by Darren Sykes, Wykoff Colours, is the UK's only charity dedicated to lymphoma, the 5th most common cancer. They've been providing in-depth, expert information for over 30 years, helping thousands of people affected by lymphoma. Bowel Cancer UK, nominated by Mike Bishop, BYK Gardner, helps younger patients to have a voice and is helping to change clinical practice and policy to stop people dying of bowel cancer under 50. They are determined to save lives, improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer, and their vision is a future where nobody dies of the disease. Finally, The Christy Hospital Manchester for Ovarian Cancer Research, nominated by Ian Hay, PRA, provides enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. Donations from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to their patients and their families.

The ride is open to BCF members and non-members and participants are invited to get involved as individuals, or as teams, choosing a 25, 50 or 100km route. Riders are expected to raise £250 with fundraising done via the ‘gofundme’ platform, which will transfer donations directly to the charity. The BCF would like to thank their sponsors, Sun Chemical, U-POL, Hempel, Indestructible, Lake Coatings and BYK-Gardner whose support makes this event possible. 

Tom Bowtell, Chief Executive of the BCF, says “The BCF are proud to be organising this event as it benefits four wonderful causes that have affected our members deeply. The money raised will go a long way to supporting numerous families across the UK in the same way the charities have helped our members.  It’s wonderful that our industry is able to unite and give something back and we’re very excited about the big day”.

Join the ride, or donate by visiting www.coatings.org.uk/ridewarwickshire or email belle.robertson@bcf.co.uk for more information.