insideKENT Magazine Issue 88 - July 2019 | Page 170

CHARITY
Last Chance to Saddle Up for RBLI Centenary Ride
Injured veterans have issued the last call for cyclists
to join them in an historic event celebrating 100
years of Royal British Legion Industries and its work
in providing employment, accommodation and
support for wounded ex-forces personnel.
The charity’s Centenary Ride takes place between
12th-14th July, setting off from its village in Aylesford,
near Maidstone, before travelling across the European
battlefields of the First World War, finishing for a
service of remembrance and the playing of the last
post at the evocative Menin Gate war memorial at
Ypres in Belgium, the scene of one the Great War’s
bloodiest battles.
Ten veterans are expected to take part, including a
team of six former Gurkhas, all of whom work for
RBLI’s social enterprise Britain’s Bravest
Manufacturing Company (BBMC), which
manufactures pallets and signs for clients including
Highways England and Network Rail.
Geoff Streetley, Managing Director of BBMC, who
will take part in this year’s ride said: “This year is a
landmark one for RBLI, commemorating the
centenary of our formation in 1919 to provide support
for wounded and sick veterans returning from the
battlefields of the First World War.
“The RBLI Centenary Ride is a unique opportunity
to show our respect for those who served their country
100 years ago, those who returned with life-changing
injuries and also those of more recent conflicts, many
of whom still desperately require our support – whilst
also raising crucial funds for RBLI’s support for
injured veterans.
“We are grateful to all those who have signed up to
take part in this year’s ride, but there is room for
more and I would encourage anyone interested not
to miss out on this fantastic event.”
This year’s event comes after 30 people from across
the country undertook the same journey in 2018
raising more than £25,000 for ex-servicemen and
women through RBLI’s services.
The cost of taking part in this fully supported ride
is £499 which covers ride captains, support vehicles,
medics, hotels for two nights with a celebration
Rounders Tournament
Raised £2,500
The annual charity rounders tournament organised by staff at
accountants Creaseys has raised £2,500, to be donated to Tunbridge
Wells Mental Health Resource.
Teams from a dozen local businesses took part in the tournament,
held at Penshurst Place Gardens.
Winners Penshurst Place beat Batchelor Monkhouse in the final.
Other participants were BDHL, BNP Paribas, Interquest Group
(two teams), Cripps, Hilden Oaks, HSBC, Thackray Williams,
Thomson Snell & Passmore, Towergate and hosts Creaseys. The
fundraising event included a barbecue supplied by Penshurst Beef,
bar and tombola.
Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource is Creaseys' charity of the
year. Established by local residents in 1993, the group provides long-
term practical and emotional help to those with complex mental
health conditions. An average of 950 people per year are cared for.
dinner on the final night, motorcycle outriders,
outward channel crossing by ferry and return journey
by coach and Eurotunnel. The charity is asking
participants to raise £500 for their services.
Every penny raised will go directly to supporting
vulnerable veterans through RBLI’s new Centenary
Village at Aylesford. The riders will also be supporting
RBLI’s employment support programme LifeWorks,
and its social enterprise, Britain’s Bravest
Manufacturing Company, where 70% of staff are
veterans, individuals with disabilities, or both.
To sign-up to take part, simply contact
[e-mail]
or visit www.rbli.co.uk/centenaryride
Kent Charities Scoop
Share of
£1Million Fund
14 charities based in Kent have received
donations of £1,000 each as part of the
Movement for Good awards.
The awards, set up by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, will see a total of £1million given
to charities across the UK this summer. Members of the public were invited to nominate
causes close to their hearts, with 500 awards of £1,000 available for donation.
The local charities benefiting from donations include: Tree of Life, All Bullie Rescue,
Aspens Charities, Folkestone Rainbow Centre, Morning Star Trust, Project Moz,
Rosina Animal Centre, Service by Emergency Response Volunteers Serv (Kent),
Starfish Malawi, The Eden Christian Trust, The Harmony Therapy Trust, The Heart
of Kent Hospice, The Maypole Project and Veterans Lifeline.
More than 3,000 kind-hearted residents voted for over 190 charities across the region.
In total, an amazing 98,000 people around the UK supported the Movement for Good
awards, with over 7,000 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes.
The 500 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated.
Thanking supporters in Kent, Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “We
have seen a fantastic public response to our Movement for Good awards. It’s clear that
people care deeply about good causes in their region, and from looking at the nomination
data locally, healthcare and community organisations seemed to hold a particularly
fond place in the hearts of residents.
“Here at Ecclesiastical, our core purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society,
so charitable giving is at the heart of our business. We know that £1,000 can make a
huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we’re looking forward to
seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.”
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