East Anglia hospitality group gears up for 550km cycle for children's hospices
The cycling group set off on the 25th and will finish on the 29th September.
Last updated 9th Oct 2023
A cycling team from the fast-growing hospitality business, Chestnut, are back in the saddle for a 550km challenge to raise money for EACH (East Anglia Children's Hospices).
Chestnut, which owns 16 pubs across Cambridgeshire, Essex, took part in a similar challenge last year, cycling pub-to-pub where they raised £21,000 for Nourishing Norfolk.
This time, they are hoping to raise £30,000 for EACH.
Their planned route will cover stops at all 16 Chestnut pubs, as well as stops at three EACH hospices at Milton, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and The Nook, near Norwich.
A dozen cyclists are taking part, including a core team of four who will complete the full journey over the course of five days.
They are Ian Kyle, Head Chef at The Three Blackbirds, in Woodditton, 30, Chris Matthews-King, Assistant Manager at The Packhorse Inn, in Moulton, 35, Justin Newton, Regional Head Chef at The Black Lion, in Long Melford, and The Crown, in Stoke by Nayland, 51, and Ben Foxcroft, Head of Sales, 44.
The route varies from 70k to nearly 150k every day, with the third day being an eye-watering 142k.
Ben Foxcroft who is Head of Sales at Chestnut and part of the cycling team said: "It's very important to be raising money for EACH because they need our help.
I have an 11-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son and I'm very appreciative that my children are healthy when many aren't.
What EACH does for families and the quality of life they provide at the end of life is so important."
The team started their journey at The Carpenter Arms and will have travelled through rural Essex market towns, along the Suffolk and Norfolk Coast before finishing off in the Cambridgeshire countryside at The Weeping Willow in Bury St Edmunds.
Chestnut donated all bill donations during last year’s busy festive season to EACH. When settling up, customers had the chance to make a contribution to the charity. A running total was kept and the final total across the company’s portfolio was an incredible £10,100.
For more information click here and to donate visit the team’s JustGiving page.