Chamber plans charity cycling fundraiser in support of lifesaving responders
Solihull Chamber of Commerce are set to host a charity fundraising event next year in support of their charity of the year, Arrive Alive.
The ‘Le Tour in 24’ event will take place on Friday 4 February 2022 until Saturday 5 February 2022 in Solihull’s Touchwood Shopping Centre and will help raise much needed funds for the Chamber’s chosen charity, Arrive Alive.
Arrive Alive funds vital lifesaving vehicles and equipment for Community First Responder groups (CFR’s) who attend life threatening medical emergencies.
CFR’s are trained volunteers who are dispatched via a 999 call and can reach a medical emergency in those vital seconds/minutes prior to a road or air ambulance due to being directly based within the heart of the community.
Equipment and vehicles are not funded by the government, NHS, ambulance service or national lottery and Arrive Alive is solely funded by donations.
In support of the charity, teams and individuals will be attempting to cycle the length of Le Tour De France on six stationary bikes.
They will be taking it in turns to cycle for no more than one-hour as far as they can to reach the goal of 3,365.8km.
There will be 144 one-hour slots – with each one committing to raising £100 to help raise £14,400 for lifesaving charity Arrive Alive to fund a voluntary operated 999 vehicle that can be used by Community First Responders who are trained by West Midlands Ambulance Service. Community first responders are volunteers providing essential emergency medical care and supporting the ambulance service based directly within the local community.
Chamber members and non-members, organisations and individuals alike are invited to take part in this event.
Debbie Roscoe of Arrive Alive said: “Arrive Alive is thrilled to be the chosen charity for such a unique event hosted in the centre of Solihull. Le Tour in 24 is set to be a combined team event over twenty hours cycling the distance of Le Tour de France, and the aim is to raise awareness of our lifesaving work within the West Midlands supporting West Midlands Ambulance Service in addition to raising vital funds for our voluntary operated lifesaving 999 resources.
“Our resources have still been operational during the pandemic saving lives and continue to be operational over the festive period. We are immensely grateful to Solihull Chamber of Commerce for their support and look forward to seeing the wheels in motion in February 2022 at the Le Tour in 24 event.”
Samantha Frampton (pictured), head of Solihull Chamber, said: “We are really hoping that this fundraising event can support Arrive Alive after what has been a really difficult period for the charity sector.
“We are really looking forward to seeing our business community come together in support of Arrive Alive’s critical work, and it will be a great way to kick off what will hopefully be a much brighter year for all of us.”
Tony Elvin, general manager at Touchwood and president of Solihull Chamber, said: “We are very excited to host this event within the heart of Touchwood, providing riders the opportunity to cover the full 24 hour cycle with plenty of support from our shoppers and guests.
“Whilst the event aims to generate significant funds towards a new first response vehicle for Arrive Alive, we also hope that it will help raise crucial awareness of the charity and why it is such an invaluable service for the people of Solihull, one which many have never heard of until they need it.”
