Congratulations to the Anderson Group take part in a 155 mile bike ride and raised over £5,000 for the National Autistic Society

On Friday 11 October, thirteen representatives of The Anderson Group took part in a charity bike ride to raise money for The National Autistic Society, the 2013 beneficiary of The Anderson Foundation. During the gruelling ride, each of the cyclists would’ve burned off around 8,000 calories each (over 100,000 between them!). The Anderson Group have currently raised in excess of £5,000 for the charity and are looking to increase this with post event team donations from suppliers over the next couple of weeks.
Setting off from Dartford at 8am Friday morning, the cyclists followed the route of the M25 in torrential rain. After covering 85 miles, the group enjoyed an overnight stop at the Bellhouse Hotel, Gerrards Cross, to dry off and build up their energy for the final leg of the journey - whilst enjoying the hotel’s sauna! During their stay at the hotel, one of the managers approached the cyclists and generously gave a donation of £40 for the cause. She explained that one of her relatives suffers from autism and she wanted to support the team and help raise money for the fantastic cause.
The group reached their final destination of Lakeside Shopping Centre on Saturday afternoon after completing a further 70 miles, before travelling back to The Anderson Group’s Head Office to be congratulated by friends, family and colleagues on their fantastic achievement.
The journey was not without its mishaps though! The group included four brave individuals who added extra difficulty to the long journey by choosing to ride tandem bicycles. One of the tandem bikes got lost on the first leg of the journey and after two long hours, the pair found that they had ridden in a circle and ended up back at Dartford. They were swiftly picked up and transported back to the rest of the group to continue the ride.
One member of the group, Paul Davis, was hit by a van on a roundabout. After completing two thirds of the journey on the first day, Paul’s bike bore the brunt of the accident when the van collided with his back wheel. Luckily, he was not hurt and even managed to borrow another bike to try and finish the journey.
The group’s support team were on hand to provide much needed help along the journey. Gillian Black and Darren Carter ensured that no puncture went unfixed and guided those who got lost back on track, while meeting the group every 20 miles with refreshments.
The Anderson Foundation was established in 2003 by Mark Anderson, Chairman of The Anderson Group, and has since raised in excess of £1.5 million for a number of worthy causes, including the NSPCC, Help for Heroes, The Marina Dalglish Appeal, Breast Cancer Research and The National Autistic Society.
The Anderson Foundation’s chosen charity for 2013, The National Autistic Society, is the leading charity in the UK for people with autism and Asperger syndrome, and their families. The charity provides support, information and pioneering services to those who have been affected by the disorder, whilst campaigning for a better world for those who suffer from it.
Simon Arnup, Planning Manager at The Anderson Group and organiser of the event commented: “Despite the wet and windy weather, everyone who took part in the ride had a great time. We came across some obstacles along the way but it was worth it in the end and we are delighted to have raised such a great sum of money for The National Autistic Society.”
Mark Anderson, Chairman of The Anderson Group and Founder of The Anderson Foundation commented: “I am so proud of the dedication of all those who took part in what were horrendous cycling conditions and thrilled that the funds raised have been donated to a very worthy cause.”
Well done to all those who took part in the gruelling challenge and congratulations on raising such an amazing sum for the National Autistic Society!