MARKS & Spencer is gearing up for its biggest ever fundraising event, with more than 1,400 employees taking part in its BIKE 24 charity cycle challenge on Friday, June 21, including a team from Redditch

The company is aiming to raise £1.5million for five charities, M&S employees are backing the cyclists as they prepare for M&S’s unique fundraising event this summer.

Eight colleagues from M&S Redditch, will be taking part in BIKE 24, the ‘Le Mans’ inspired 24 hour endurance event in Corby. Employees will compete in teams of four, with a cyclist from each team on the track from 5pm on Friday, 21 June until 5pm on Saturday, 22 June. In addition, 23 experienced solo riders are also competing individually and will stay in the saddle for the whole duration of the challenge.

Each lap of the circuit will help M&S to raise crucial funds in support of its five charity partners: Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Action Medical Research, the Marie Keating Foundation, Action Cancer and Prostate Cancer UK.

In addition, employees at M&S Redditch have begun their fundraising efforts in store and over this weekend, June 15-16, and June 22-23, will be taking it in turn to cycle on static bikes all day, with a bucket collection taking place. Staff are also on hand to offer bag packing, in return for a donation to the cause.

Lesley Pountney, M&S Redditch store manager, who is also taking part in BIKE 24, said: “Following the success of British cycling last summer, the nation has really taken the sport to its hearts. With more than double the number of participants this year, we’re delighted our BIKE 24 charity cycle challenge will be bigger and better than ever. That’s why we’ve set an ambitious target to raise £1.5million for these five truly worthwhile charities.”
Customers can donate online at www.virginmoneygiving.com/mandscharitychallenge.