Cyclists from West Oxfordshire estate agent Parkers Properties are gearing up for a charity challenge in September. Owners Brendan and Lisa Kay, along with colleagues, will participate in the 'Tour de Parkers' event on September 10 and 11.
The eight-person team, including Simon Gregory, Theo Smith, Ash Howes, Morgan Jones, Toby Phillips, and Jayson Wicks, plans to visit all 17 Parkers branches across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Gloucestershire. They aim to cover more than 200 miles over two days, starting in Stroud and finishing at a new Basingstoke office.
The goal is to raise £10,000 for Oxford's Ronald McDonald House. This facility, located at Oxford Children’s Hospital, opened in April 2020 and offers 'home away from home' accommodation, including 62 bedrooms, kitchens, and laundry facilities, for families with children undergoing hospital treatment.
Chloe Hodgson, a community fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House in Oxford, noted the importance of corporate partners like Parkers, especially given current fundraising challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis. Last year, the House accommodated over 1,000 families. This will be the second 'Tour de Parkers', with a previous event seven years ago raising just under £6,000 for the same charity.