Swindon-based Excalibur Communications has completed its ‘Round the World in 80 Working Days’ cycling challenge, raising £20,000 for local mental health and wellbeing charities.
Excalibur and Techs4Education staff joined together to cycle 18,000 miles, following a virtual version of the route completed by endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont in 2017.
For every mile completed Excalibur donated £1 into its charity fund and, as a boost to motivation, gave £2 per mile for the last 2,000 miles cycled.
With six spin and gym cycles set up at Excalibur’s HQ and a 74 mile Portsmouth to Swindon bike ride organised, more than 90 per cent of Excalibur employees took part in the fundraising challenge. Weekend miles were measured and counted too. Five members of staff achieved over 1,000 miles each.
This year Excalibur employees chose to raise funds for IPSUM and a number of local mental health charities.
IPSUM has been serving the Swindon community since 1974 supporting the wellbeing and stability of clients through talking and creative therapies.
Excalibur CEO Peter Boucher said: “With one in four people experiencing mental health problems during their life time, we all know it could affect any one of us, a family member or colleague, at any time.
"Excalibur is keen to support those organisations that assist people in managing or overcoming their mental health difficulties with the respect and support they deserve. IPSUM is experienced into doing this, and works in a way that is particularly appealing to young people. Its therapies encompass music, art, creative writing and meditation.”