Five of vending’s finest have signed up to tackle a 300 mile charity cycle ride from Malaga to Vilamoura. Director of vending at popular packaging specialist 4 Aces Richard Allen is joining Crane Merchandising System’s Roger Bunn, N&W’s David Brady and Andy Cunliffe and Ian Keefe of Benders to raise funds for Diamond Blackfan Anaemia charity (DBA UK). The team will be riding with a support vehicle manned by Tony Abbott and Fred Stanley from The Coffee Bean Company.
Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA) is a rare bone marrow failure disorder, usually diagnosed before 12 months of age; sufferers can often require a lifetime of treatment and, in some cases, a bone marrow transplant. The group is hoping to raise awareness, as well as some much-needed funds, by undertaking the ride in the charity’s name.
Richard commented: “Although this is my first venture with the group, I’m aware that these vending brave hearts previously rode from London to Paris raising £15,000 for MacMillan and EdUkaid in the process, so we have a lot to live up to when we climb on our bikes this September.”
The journey involves approximately 17,000 ft of climbing – no mean feat for the cyclists who start the ride on the 20 September when the weather is expected to still be pretty hot. Riding via Seville, the party is scheduled to cross into Portugal and arrive in Vilamoura on 22 September, in time for all those attending the AVS conference to give them “Le Grande Arrive”.
The trip is being funded solely by the riders and so they are reaching out to the AVS community to show massive support and help us raise as much as possible for this deserving Charity that touches one of your own members. If you’d like to make a donation please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Richard-Allen22 – or be prepared to tip out your pockets over the conference weekend.
For more information on DBA UK, visit http://diamondblackfan.org.uk
