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back in 2006
Some articles on the
Red Pouches appear here:
The Courier:
The 2006 London to
Cambridge Bike Ride saw a team of 12 employees from Cambridge Mail Centre
taking part to raise money for three very important charities - Breakthrough
Breast Cancer, the East Anglia Children’s Hospice in Milton, and the Arthur
Rank House Hospice in Cambridge.
The team, calling themselves the
Red Pouches, started training for the event in February with 25 mile routes
around the Cambridge area which is not known for its hilly conditions.
On Sunday 23rd July 2006, the
official route from London to Cambridge took in some 50 miles of the more
scenic, and hilly countryside, much to our team’s great joy.
Cycling in uniform on old PO
bicycles, our team were the talking point of the race, outpacing many riders
on cycles costing thousands of pounds, and much to the amazement of
supporters along the way.
The Team surpassed
their expectations, all completing the gruelling course with the fastest
finishing in 3 hours 12 minutes, and the last team member coming in at 4
hours 58 minutes.
Chris
Clingham, Mail Centre Manager at Cambridge was there to greet them at the
end. “I am really proud of them. Their effort and commitment is so
impressive. They really are a great credit to Royal Mail”.
Raising no less that
£2522 for their chosen charities, the group are already planning next year’s
expedition.
Here's a
link to
the article that appeared in the Cambridge Evening News on 10 October
following a presentation evening at Cambridge Mail Centre when the cheques
were presented to the three charities involved.
Danny Miller presented the cheques to
East Anglia Children's Hospice,
Jane Holmes to
Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and
Chris Clingham to
Arthur Rank
House (click on the names to see the presentation photos)
The Red Pouches took part in a
further four events in 2006. They were in evidence at the annual
Chariots of Fire Race in Cambridge, the Saffron Walden 10k run, the
Oxford to Cambridge Cycle Race and they also rose to a challenge from Ian
Songhurst, General Manager of Royal Mail in East Anglia, and his team to
take part in another sponsored cycle ride. The Red Pouches easily won, but
graciously called it an honourable draw.
The challenge took in 35 miles
of Cambridge and Newmarket country side on a chilly and windy Sunday
morning. For anyone thinking that Cambridgeshire is flat, think again - we
seemed to find every hill in the county.
A good day had by all though,
and another £3000 raised for
Help the
Hospices.
One final piece of
recognition for the Red Pouches - they were nominated in the Royal Mail
First Class People Awards for their work and efforts in 2006 and were
short listed to the regional semi finals. They won £500 for their efforts so
well done again to you all.
The original
Red Pouches are: Alan Baldock, Lynn McGhee, Jane Holmes, Danny
Miller, Chris Welsh, Tim Blake, Jamie Reynolds, Dave Holt, Mark Benton and
Warren Langford, Mathew Gardner and Tony Barringer, supported by Barry
Smissen and Peter Kendrick
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