Paul Johnston, Kevin Hogan, Michael Godfrey, Craig Smith
Michael Godfrey, Sales Manager at Regents estate agents in Sunbury, part of the Badger Holdings Group, along with 16 others has completed The Wessex Way off road bike challenge, a 250 mile route, to raise approximately £30k for charity. The money will be donated to The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice in Hampton, Middlesex and all funds over the group’s target of £20,000 will go to a second chosen charity, The Willow Foundation, who provide special days for seriously ill 16-40 year olds.
The 17 riders and support crew begun the challenge in the early morning of Wednesday 23rd June at Weston-super-Mare. Over the next five days, the cyclists endured a punishing 50 mile ride per day over a five day period crossing the Mendip Hills, Salisbury Plain and following the South Downs Way. After clocking up a total of 250 miles, the team finally finished at Beachy Head in Eastbourne at 3pm on Sunday 27th June where they were met by a crowd of well wishers.
The event was arranged by Tony Addinall, Chairman of Badger Holdings Ltd, parent company to Townends and Regents Estate Agents, Tyser Greenwood Surveyors, dot financial services and INEX Property Solutions, who gained the support from three main sponsors, Badger Holdings Ltd, AMG (The Asset Management Group) and The Charlbury Group, to fund transport, accommodation and food, ensuring that all monies raised went directly to the charities.
On completing the challenge, Michael comments, “This was by far the most difficult challenge I have ever undertaken. The terrain was rough and we had a number of nasty falls along the way but we carried on to complete the challenge. Crossing the finish line at Beachy Head was an emotional point for everyone and we were all glad it was over. I think it will be a while before I get on a bike again!”
Amy White, Corporate Relationship Manager for The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, comments: “We are extremely grateful to Tony and the team for completing such a tough challenge, especially in very hot conditions. Their dedication to Shooting Star never ceases to amaze us and it is truly inspiring. Their fantastic effort will clearly have a direct impact on our care services and those families Shooting Star supports. You are all stars! Thank you all so much.”
As a company, Badger Holdings have now supported The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, based in Hampton, Middlesex for 12 years, dating back to when the hospice was built. The next event for further fundraising is on Sunday 18th July where employees throughout the group will take part in a tandem skydive.
Group photo as listed below
Participants in the sponsored bike ride were:
Tony Addinall: Executive Chairman, Badger Holdings Ltd, parent company to Townends and Regents Estate Agents, dot financial services, Tyser Greenwood Surveyors and INEX Property Solutions.
Mike Hannaway: Berkshire Fire Brigade and friend of Tony Addinall
Craig Smith: dot financial services
Kevin Hogan: dot financial services
David Parlett: Director of Tyser Greenwood Surveyors
Michael Godfrey, Sales Manager at Regents, Sunbury branch
Paul Johnston, Sales Manager at Townends, Egham branch
Richard Hurst, The Charlbury Group, main sponsor
Paul Duckworth, The Charlbury Group, main sponsor
David Ford, The Charlbury Group, main sponsor
Nick Morgan, Warrener Stewart
Simon Matthews: Director of AMG, main sponsor
Graham Hurst: Friend of the sponsors
Andy Yarrow: Friend of the sponsors
Roland McCormack: Friend of the sponsors
Mike Joyce: Friend of the sponsors
Colin Palmer, Friend of the sponsors
Support vehicle was driven by Richard Odham and Harpal Singh, friend and business associates of Tony Addinall and Gemma Culverhouse, Admin Assistant at Badger Holdings, attended as a Physiotherapist to the team.
Regents Estate Agents forms part of the Badger Holdings group of property specialists with offices operating throughout London, Surrey, Middlesex and Hampshire. Services offered include, residential sales, residential lettings, lettings management, conveyancing and land & new homes.
Badger Holdings Ltd, an independently owned company, prides itself on having a family feel with senior management having several members of their immediate family employed in the business. Its areas of trading make it, in our opinion, the premier Greater London Agent.
Badger Holdings Ltd also trades under the names of dot financial services, Tyser Greenwood Surveyors and INEX Property Solutions.
Badger Holdings are proud to support The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, based in Hampton, Middlesex.
The Shooting Star Children's Hospice
* The Shooting Star Children's Hospice provides care, support and advice for children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families. These care services are offered free of charge to families, 365 days a year.
* Shooting Star opened in 2005 and now supports 250 families. The care services are based around the needs of the whole family, so as well as caring for the children and young people, there are activities and support groups for siblings, parents and other relatives.
* Families benefit from Shooting Star's care services in the community, in their own homes and at Shooting Star House, the purpose-built facility based in Hampton, Middlesex. These services include Short Breaks (respite care), Day Care, Outreach Care, Family Support and Therapies and End of Life Care.
* It costs £3.5 million (£9,500 a day) to maintain the care services offered by Shooting Star, and with no long-term statutory funding, the majority of this comes from voluntary donations, fundraising activities and events.
* There are more than 1,000 children and young people living with a life-limiting condition in the western half of London and north Surrey (the area covered by Shooting Star's care services).
