Close Brothers Peloton cycle-a-thon raises £70,000

Employees at merchant banking group, Close Brothers, raised more than £70,000 for Cancer Research UK and Make-A-Wish Foundation through events including cycling from Balmoral Castle in Scotland to Tintagel Castle in Cornwall. But nobody actually left the office, as the cycle-a-thon took place on five Peloton Bikes situated in the company’s Liverpool Street, Wimbledon and Cannon Street offices during its annual Charity Week.

 

For a £5 donation, employees were encouraged to use the Peloton Bikes before, after and during work, even dialling into meetings whilst cycling, with chocolate prizes awarded for the fastest cycle and the most miles completed.

 

Cassie Conyers, Executive Assistant to the Group Head of HR at Close Brothers explains:

“Every year we run a charity week to raise money for worthy causes, with Close Brothers 100% matching all funds raised by staff. This year employees voted to support Cancer Research UK and Make-A-Wish Foundation, both extremely important and emotive causes, and even more so in light of the last two years, where both charities have been dramatically impacted.

 

“We encouraged staff to take part in a royally good workout, as the 2022 theme was the Queen’s platinum jubilee; hence cycling from Balmoral to Tintagel, and were inundated with colleagues booking the bikes – they generated lots of excitement and were a real talking point in the office.

 

“It was a real mix of people signing up for a ride every day after work, others who just wanted to experience a Peloton Bike for the first time and those with a Peloton at home who wanted to dial into work calls from their bike. Two colleagues in Treasury cycled for 50 miles each whilst working. We had such great feedback; colleagues really got behind the cause and everyone really enjoyed the experience.”

 

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Staff members said: “It’s a brilliant cause, close to our hearts, thank you for your hard work.”

 

“Well done Close Brothers, a great charity to choose. My mum passed away from breast cancer and the more Cancer Research UK can get the better.”

 

“Eating and exercising to raise money for charity? A fun, virtuous circle! Well done team.”

 

Conyers concludes: “We run Charity Week every year and are already planning for 2023. The only hard part is trying to beat our total each time!”