Member Article

Generous Donation for Sunderland Veteran

A Sunderland Veteran has been given a generous donation from Recyke Y’Bike so that he can take part in the Ride of Remembrance in June.

Veteran, Pat Barraclough returned to Sunderland after serving in the Royal Navy and like many veterans, Pat found some difficulty adjusting back to civilian life.

Pat found support through veteran charity Forward Assist, where he is now an inspirational speaker, and has entered the Ride of Remembrance to say thanks to those who have supported his journey and to raise funds for charity.

The Ride of Remembrance, organised by sports charity Foundation of Light, is a 320 mile bike ride to commemorate the 70th anniversary of World War Two. Cyclists will travel from Brussels to Paris, passing through some of the towns and landmarks associated with the War.

In order for Pat to enter the Ride of Remembrance he needed a road bike that would be suitable for the five day tour and on hearing his story, Gentoo Group stepped in to help.

Gentoo prides itself on being a Responsible Business and as part of his role as HRH Prince of Wales’ Ambassador for Responsible Business in the North East, Chief Executive Peter Walls introduced a business connector to Sunderland, tasked with building partnerships to tackle social issues including the matter of improving support for returning service personnel and Veterans.

Peter Walls said, “Across the UK there are thousands of men and women returning home after serving their country, and often putting their lives on the line. Prince Charles asked his ambassadors to see if they can help improve the lives of those who have served their country. I’m learning about the experiences veterans have had, what works, what doesn’t and how services can be improved.”

Gentoo’s Business Connector, Julie Bell, approached local social enterprise and charity Recyke Y’Bike who kindly agreed to donate a tailor made bike to Pat that would withstand the distance and duration of his 320 mile challenge. Adrian Nellis, Recyke Y’Bike Workshop Manager, said: “At Recyke Y’Bike we are committed to using the skills of our staff and volunteers to make a difference to people’s lives. It’s an amazing journey Pat is about to embark upon and we are really proud to be a part of that.”

Mechanics and volunteers from Recyke Y’Bike refurbish bikes donated by the public, to bring them back up to standard. The charity sell some of the bikes in their Byker and Durham shops to raise funds to send quality bicycles to African countries through organisations such as Re-cycle Colchester and the Avenues Bike Project.

Pat said: “I am so grateful for all of the support I have received to help me undertake this massive challenge. The Ride of Remembrance has become integral to my recovery and without the backing from Forward Assist, Recyke Y’Bike and Gentoo’s Business Connector, it would not have been possible.”

Ride of Remembrance cyclists will begin their journey on 30 June, passing through Huy, La Roche en Ardenne, Durbuy, Sedan, Novion-Porcien and Soissons before ending under the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris on 5 July.

Gentoo Group’s whole ethos is about believing nothing is impossible and finding new ways to challenge conventions, Gentoo aims to make society a better place to live and to make a real difference to the way people live their life. To find out more about Gentoo and its work to support returning service personnel and Veterans visit gentoogroup.com or follow @gentoogroup on twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emily Morris .