The Cardiff office of property adviser GVA has taken to two wheels in aid of children’s hospice, Tŷ Hafan. The Taff Trail Cycle Challenge took place on Sunday 7th September, attracting over 500 cyclists including eight from GVA. The event is hoping to raise over £50,000, contributing to the hospice’s annual running costs of £3.7million.
GVA was the main sponsor of this year’s event, which is now in its 12th successful year. Cyclists were invited to follow one of two trails – the full trail of 52 miles, and the half trail of 26 miles – in perfect cycling conditions, sunny and dry.
The Taff Trail Cycle Challenge follows one of the most beautiful and scenic routes in Wales, from Brecon to Cardiff, taking in the valleys and villages, along former railway lines, canal paths, tram roads, reservoirs and viaducts. The shorter trail starts in Merthyr Tydfil. Both trails finish together in Cardiff centre, in Blackweir Fields.
The money that the GVA teams – the GVA Speedwagon and the GVA Allstars –
raised through their own sponsorship will be matched by the company. Together with the sponsorship, GVA is hoping to donate £6,000 to the charity.
Tŷ Hafan depends on fund raising through events such as the Taff Trail Challenge to meet the running costs for their vital services, providing care and support to life-limited children, young people and their families from across Wales.
Ben Lewis, Director at GVA who, together with colleagues, has now taken part in the Taff Trail for the past four years, says: “We’re really pleased to have supported Tŷ Hafan through sponsorship of the Taff Trail Cycle Challenge this year, as well as entering two teams. Tŷ Hafan is a really amazing and inspirational charity, and is close to many people’s hearts, so we hope that by working with them we will help them raise significant funds.
“We served drinks and snacks to family and friends at the end of the race in the GVA gazebo. There was a great atmosphere throughout the event and particularly at the end as everyone finished – we hope we’ve inspired other staff members to dust off their bikes and take part next year too.”
Mair Jeffreys, Events and Marketing Officer at Tŷ Hafan, said: “We are incredibly grateful to GVA for kindly supporting our Taff Trail Challenge event. We are thrilled that so many participants signed up for the challenge as the funds raised will make such a difference to the lives of life-limited children and their families who rely on services.”