Employability charity, Smart Works, has launched its annual fundraising challenge to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021.
The charity, which works to support unemployed women across Greater Manchester gain the skills and confidence to get back into work, is encouraging organisations or groups of friends and family to enter teams into their cycling challenge. Teams of five will be tasked with cycling a collective total of 500 miles starting from 1st March and ending on International Women’s Day on 8th March 2021.
The challenge can be completed on any kind of bike – either outside or on a stationary exercise bike in the home or office in line with current lockdown regulations. The challenge can also be done as a run, if preferred.
Energy software firm, Utiligroup, joined the challenge last year, entering six teams which raised over £5,000 for Smart Works Greater Manchester. The company organised an internal competition using cycling app, Strava, and installed spin bikes around the office for miles to be cycled around work. Matthew Hirst, Group CEO, said:
When we heard about Spin for Smart Works 2020, we thought it would be a great way for people right across our business to join teams and strive to achieve a common purpose getting fit and fundraising for a great cause!
“We had everyone from very keen cyclists who think nothing of jumping on their road bikes and cycling 50km in the beautiful local countryside, gym fanatics who did loads of spinning, plus we had our local gym GymWorks provide bikes and extra spin classes for our teams.
“It was a great week and hopefully we’ll do it all again for Cycle for Smart Works 2021.”
Sign ups for this year’s cycling challenge opened on Wednesday 13th January via the Smart Works website and teams can raise funds via Enthuse. Sign-up costs £5 per person (£25 per team) and each team will receive a welcome pack with fundraising advice and guidance, cycling tips and a guide on completing the challenge. The first 100 teams to register will also receive a limited edition Cycle for Smart Works 2021 t-shirt.