Member Article

All roads lead to Rome! Local housebuilder supports charity bike ride

Local housebuilder, Barratt Homes has donated £250 to support Barry Hopkinson’s charity bike ride from Addingham to Rome; a journey that took him over 1,500 miles and through four countries.

The aim of the challenge was to raise much-needed funds for Manorlands Hospice near Haworth, an organisation that supported Barry and his wife when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012. After Carole, his wife of 49 years, sadly passed away in April 2013, Barry decided to cycle to Rome in an effort to raise money in recognition of the care she had received. After 20 days of intense cycling, each of which brought him on average 76 miles closer to the ancient Italian capital, Barry arrived at the Colosseum.

So far Barry has raised over £12,000 and is confident that once all sponsorship is collected, he will be able to present the hospice with over £13,000.

Ian Ruthven, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Yorkshire West, commented: “We are very proud to have supported Barry in his incredible undertaking to raise money for such a worthy cause. We hope the money we donated will help the fantastic staff at Manorlands Hospice and all the work they do.”

Barry commented: “I am very humbled by all the support I have received throughout this challenge. After Carole died I knew I had to do something to give back to the hospice, and since I have enjoyed cycling since boyhood, I decided to see how far I could ride and how much money I could raise. Manorlands Hospice depends on charitable donations to make up 75% of its annual income and I hope that the money raised goes in some part to repaying my debt of gratitude.”

To continue his fundraising Barry will be cycling the width of the UK from Whitehaven to Sunderland in August alongside friends and family.

For more information about Barratt Homes please visit: http://www.barratthomes.co.uk/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .