Pedalling for Pubs 2023 Targets £100K by Christmas As Fundraisers Prepare for 450KM Sri Lanka Ride

After an incredible debut ride across Jordan, raising a target-smashing £274,000 for leading hospitality charities; the Licensed Trade Charity and Only a Pavement Away, Pedalling for Pubs is back for 2023, with riders banging the fundraising drum among the hospitality industry in the run up to Christmas.

Thanks to fantastic early support and generous sponsorship from a clutch of brands and companies, the campaign has already raised close to £70,000. Now the organisers – led by challenge founder Katy Moses of leading research consultancy KAM – have set their sights on breaching the £100,000 fundraising barrier by Christmas.

On the new campaign, which will see 29 riders tackle more than 450km of hills and challenging terrain, as they journey across Sri Lanka from coast to coast, in April 2023, Katy Moses said: “We’re thrilled to be doing this again and amazed by the early support we’ve received. What I think is resonating with our supporters – and certainly helping with our training – is the two fantastic charities that will, through our collective fundraising efforts, save and change lives.

“Thank you to everyone that has already supported us, our message to our industry colleagues and friends is please spare what you can no matter how big or small. This industry is brilliant at coming together to support people and great causes, and let us all just see if we can get anywhere near last year’s amazing total.”

Pedalling for Pubs tasks leaders from the brewing, pub and hospitality sectors to undertake a mammoth charity cycle expedition, created as a collaborative effort by leading industry organisations, as well as The Licensed Trade Charity and Only A Pavement Away themselves, with the purpose of raising vital funds for these two great charities. Alongside KAM, supporting partners and sponsors include Greene King, Punch Taverns, Wireless Social, Lucky Saint, BII, Airship/ Toggle, Barclaycard and Fleet Street.

Next year will also see the launch of the inaugural Pedalling 2 Pubs UK Edition, taking place between 9th and 11th June 2023, with around 50 people from across the hospitality sector riding 240km across the Yorkshire Wolds.

The aim is to raise a combined total of over £200,000 in donations, from both charity cycle challenges with the money being distributed evenly between Only A Pavement Away and the Licensed Trade Charity, both of which have been fundamental in supporting those in need through both Covid and the cost of living crisis.

Participants in the challenge will spend the next four months training, while continuing to raise the profile of the initiative and encouraging those who are able, to donate. Of the 29 riders confirmed, all come from the hospitality and foodservice industries, and include the likes of, Katy Moses of KAM, Clive Chesser of Punch Taverns, Olivia Fitzgerald of Zonal, Aaron Duffett of Lucky Saint, Mark Robson of New Born Pubs, Hamish Stoddart previously of Peach Pubs, James Nye of Anglian Country Inns, Jackie Marlow of UK Hospitality and Mark Stretton of Fleet Street. The full list of riders can be viewed on the Pedalling for Pubs donation page.

Paula Smith, Head of Marketing at the Licensed Trade Charity said: “The drinks trade has endured such a torrid time over the last 36 months, and sadly it does not look to be getting much easier any time soon. Now, more than ever, it is critical for the Licensed Trade Charity to be able to provide as much support for drinks people as possible, be it financial aid, help with mental wellbeing, housing, health, education or employment advice, and it is great fundraising campaigns such as this that allow us to keep caring for industry professionals in need. Good luck to each and every one of my fellow riders and thank you to all who have already donated.”

Greg Mangham, founder and CEO of Only A Pavement Away added: “This year’s initiative exceeded all our expectations in terms of fundraising, and is a testament to the energy and passion that all riders and organisers invested in completing the inaugural Pedalling for Pubs. We’re delighted to be involved once again, and grateful to Katy Moses and everyone participating for helping us to raise vital funds to support people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans into careers within the hospitality industry, and fundamentally delivering stability through employment.”

To find out more about the challenge or to donate, please follow this link: https://pedallingforpubs.org.uk/donate/