Getting Active: the fundraising riders celebrate at the end of their 170-mile coast-to-coast bike ride, raising £5,300 for Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation.
A Teesside team of financial advisors lived up to their company name when they got active on a gruelling coast-to-coast charity bike ride – raising £5,300 for local community groups.
Staff and friends of Active Chartered Financial Planners took on a 170-mile bike ride from St Bees in Cumbria to Saltburn on the North-East coast.
Active are patrons of Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, who will receive the funds raised to support local charities and good causes.
The 12-strong group who completed the journey were Karl Pemberton, Karl Nendick, Paul Gibson, Mark Dobing, Andy Mitchell, Paul Lofts, Michael McCulloch, Phil Luke, Brett Clark, James Robertson, Mark Rockliffe and Miles Gibson.
They made the cross-country challenge with the support of Active and Handelsbanken, with RMB Auto and Coatham Coaches providing support vehicles, while investment specialists Heartwood provided the riders with special jerseys for the ride.
The three-day journey saw them cover more than 60 miles and 11,000 feet of climbs on the first day before watching Boro’s promotion play-off success over Brentford in a Penrith pub.
Active managing director Karl Pemberton said: “Day two was probably the hardest day – including a seven-mile climb to the summit of Hartside – an absolute killer – and then a hill called Garagill that was even harder.
“But seeing a welcome party, including friends and family, waiting for us at the bottom of Saltburn bank at the journey’s end was a real lump-in-the-throat moment.
“We’re just so proud to have done it for such a brilliant cause as the Philanthropic Foundation. We love the work they do in providing opportunities and funding for people who would otherwise really struggle.”
