A trio of well-known automotive leaders are to literally cycle on water across an epic 166-mile route as they look to raise £300k in funds for Ben to support industry colleagues.
The Epic Thames Waterbike Ride challenge – Ben’s Industry Leader Challenge 2019 (ILC) – has been taken on by Jon Wakefield, Volvo Car UK’s managing director; Tim Tozer, CEO of Allianz Partners UK & Ireland and Darren Guiver, managing director of Group 1 Automotive, and will see the trio cycle from Thames Head near Kemble, Gloucestershire to the mouth of the North Sea on self-propelled Schiller waterbikes in just four days, from 4th to 7th July this year.
The trio took on the baton for ILC 2019 from Andy Bruce, CEO of Lookers, whose 2018 challenge (Lookers ‘Electric Charge’) raised £215,755 for Ben. This year’s challengers are looking to beat the previous year’s fundraising total.
Darren Guiver, managing director, Group 1 Automotive, said: “I am honoured and privileged to have been asked to represent Ben in the ILC initiative – such a worthy cause doing amazing work for industry colleagues across the country. I only hope that after nearly 170 miles in the saddle I can still smile.”
Jon Wakefield, managing director, Volvo Car UK, also commented, saying: “The work Ben does to support those who need it across our hugely varied industry is invaluable, so I’m honoured to be joining Darren and Tim in the 2019 Industry Leader Challenge. Volvo is a company that cares about people, so while the prospect of riding a water bike for 166 miles fills me with no small amount of dread, the money we’ve challenged ourselves to raise will make the experience worthwhile.”
And Tim Tozer, CEO of Allianz Partners UK and Ireland, added: “This will be a demanding, fun and real physical challenge that I am thrilled to be involved with alongside my two industry colleagues. Supporting Ben is fantastic as it gives those working in our industry phenomenal support when it is needed most. We are determined to succeed in raising much needed funds to help Ben continue their vital, compassionate work.”
Welcoming the support from all at Volvo Car UK, Allianz Partners UK & Ireland and Group 1 Automotive, Matt Wigginton, business development director at Ben, said: “We wish our 2019 industry leader trio the best of luck and we’re very much looking forward to following them on their journey upstream. Our services are funded entirely – and can only continue – through the generous support of the industry. Fundraising activities such as this are vital in ensuring that we can continue to provide life-changing support to industry colleagues.”
To watch the video on the ILC 2019, click here.
Donate to this epic challenge via: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/benilc2019
