The AXA Wealth Fat Boys, a cycling team from AXA Wealth led by CEO Mike Kellard, are back, with a new Fat Boy in the saddle. This year, their third year, will be their biggest challenge yet as they take on a gruelling route through five countries from London to Cologne starting today.
The 350 mile journey, starting from AXA's UK head office in the City of London, will see the Fat Boys travel down to the South Coast of England, through northern France, across Belgium, through southern Holland and into Germany, where they’ll finally be able to rest. The team will be cycling about 100 miles a day to reach their final destination of AXA’s Cologne office.
The Fat Boys are using their pedal power to raise money for two local hospices that were voted for by Basingstoke and Bristol employees at the beginning of the year. The team are hoping to raise at least £10,000 which will be split between St Michael’s Hospice in Basingstoke and St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol. St Michael’s Hospice cares for patients through North Hampshire who are affected by life-limiting illnesses both within the Hospice and in patient’s homes. St Peter’s Hospice is Bristol’s only adult hospice caring for local people with life-limiting illnesses. Their commitment is to improve the quality of life of patients while extending care and support to their families and loved ones.
In addition to Mike Kellard, this year the Fat Boys team will comprise Dave Deadman, senior programme manager, David Whiteman, head of executive office, Simon Daunter, business adviser to the CEO, and newcomer Ian Colquhoun, director of sales and marketing, Specialist Products.
The Fat Boys are being joined for the final few miles into Cologne by some of their AXA Germany colleagues who will lead them to the local office.
Mike Kellard, CEO, AXA Wealth, said: “Training has been hard, especially with the number of injuries the Auf Wiedersehen Fat Boys are carrying. Between us we’ve got broken ribs, a slipped disc in the back, a stress fracture in the ankle, a DVT and the list goes on but we’re determined to get to Cologne regardless. Our ride from Basingstoke to Paris last year really pushed us but this year we‘ll be cycling nearly double that distance, which is a daunting thought. The support from our colleagues, friends and family has been fantastic. They have already helped us raise a considerable sum of money including in the offices through cake bake sales, dress down days and a raffle.”
New Fat Boy, Ian Colquhoun, director of sales and marketing, Specialist Products, AXA Wealth, added: “I have heard all about the Fat Boy’s experiences from the past two years and as much as they have sounded like great adventures with breath-taking scenery, there is still an element that I must not forget for this year; I need to cycle every one of those miles. Training before we set off was going well and I even opted to hire a mountain bike on my recent holiday to Spain.”
To find out more about the AXA Wealth Fat Boy’s story and to donate, please visit their web page - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/auf.wiedersehen.fat.boys or to follow updates on Twitter #AXAFatBoys .
|
