European cycle challenge raises £23,000 for Albion in the Community
A cycle ride from Calais to Antwerp raised more than £23,000 for Albion in the Community (AITC).
Seventeen cyclists took part in the 182-mile challenge and among the riders were former Albion players Danny Cullip and Guy Butters and poet and Seagulls fan Attila the Stockbroker.
This was the seventh year in a row in which AITC has organised a cycle challenge to Europe and the event was again supported by American Express.
And as well as providing sponsorship for the ride, Brighton & Hove Albion’s official shirt sponsor also encouraged several of its employees to take part and raise money for AITC.
The money raised from the ride will now help fund AITC’s work across Sussex. The charity uses the popularity of football and the football club to engage people in more than 60 different community projects, with the overall focus on improving the health and wellbeing, education and aspirations of the local community.
Emma Brockhurst, fundraising executive at AITC, said: “Our European cycle challenge is always one of the highlights of our fundraising calendar and this year was no different.
“All the cyclists did fantastically to complete what was a significant physical challenge and they should be incredibly proud of that achievement.
“Our thanks go to all our amazing cyclists and, of course, to American Express for once again generously supporting our ride.
“The money raised by our cyclists will help support some of our local projects here in Sussex and will have a genuinely positive impact on the lives of many of the people we work with.”
AITC is now looking for local cyclists to take part in its annual one-day cycle ride through the Sussex countryside.
The Brighton Breezy event takes place on Sunday 21 July and entry starts at just £25 – with cyclists able to choose from three different distances, each starting and finishing at the American Express Community Stadium.