As part of the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations, Unite Students, the UK’s largest provider of student accommodation, is organising a large scale, mass participation cycling event in aid of Sport Relief 2016.
From 27th February – 11th March our staff, students and marathon static cycling world record holder Jamie McDonald will be cycling 250,000 miles and raising £250,000 under the campaign title of ‘The World’s Biggest ‘Virtual’ Tandem’.
Unite want everyone to ‘take a seat’ and therefore the campaign will incorporate a series of events including a static bike challenge and the John O’Groats to Lands End (JOGLE) challenge.
In Bath, where Unite Students manage 2 properties, Bath Spa University is hosting a static bike event at the Commons between 29th February – 1st March from 8am – 8pm, and between 2nd – 9th March from 8am – 8pm at the Student Union.
Anyone is welcome to take part by just turning up.
Additionally as part of the challenge a team of employees and students, known as the JOGLE Team, will be cycling this iconic route, starting on 27th February.
Relay cycle teams, made up of staff and students from cities where we have properties, will meet the team at designated points along the route and will cycle back to their cities.
The campaign will culminate with a large static bike challenge at Observation Point, Southbank, London on 11th March. This will be a final push to reach the miles and income target.
Unite Students Chief Executive Mark Allan said: “Sport Relief is one of the UK’s best loved charities and we wanted to help our 46,000 students get behind it so we’ve organised a host of opportunities for them and other students.
“We want as many students across the UK as possible to get active and get involved to help us reach our £250,000 total which we’ve set.”
Jamie McDonald, adventurer, world record holder and part-time superhero, who is also taking part in the challenge, commented: “I can’t wait to get cycling with the students, both on the John O’Groats to Land’s End ride and on the static bikes at their universities.
“It’s always a bit daunting to get on a bike again after the challenge that was the Guinness Record. But Sport Relief is such a good cause and students are so generous.
“It’s really important to me to help other people challenge themselves, see what they can do and help others.”
Cassie Emanuel, Fundraising Manager at Comic Relief added: “We are delighted that Unite Students are taking on such an amazing challenge for Sport Relief.
“We wish them the best of luck with their challenge and their fundraising efforts. They are helping to give extremely vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and across the world’s poorest communities a helping hand to turn their lives around.
“If anyone is inspired by Unite Student’s extraordinary efforts they can head to sportrelief.com to get involved.”
To find full details about the challenge go to: http://www.unite-students.com/sport-relief.
