Pictured above: British Cycling's performance director Dave
Brailsford (second from right) is pictured with (LtoR) Legal
Secretary, Kristin Clark,Managing Principal, Neil Barnes and
solicitor, Richard Saum, all from Robinsons Solicitors
British Cycling's performance director Dave Brailsford has
passed on training tips and a good luck message to a group of
Ilkeston lawyers who are getting on their bikes for a local
charity.
Dave, who coaches Olympic gold medal-winning cycling stars Sir
Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Bradley Wiggins, visited
Robinsons Solicitors in Burns Street to help the firm launch a year
of two-wheeled fundraising for local charity the Ben Parker
Trust.
The firm has adopted the cause as its chosen charity for 2011
and is organising a series of events in order to raise much-needed
funds, including an attempt to set a world record for the furthest
distance cycled by a team on a stationary bike in one hour.
The feat, which will coincide with a charity fun day on June 18
in Ilkeston featuring attractions such as stalls, face-painting,
bouncy castle and a penalty shoot-out, will be followed in
September by a team representing the firm taking part in the Wiggle
Rut, a 74-mile cyclo sportif event through the Leicestershire and
Rutland countryside.
The Ben Parker Trust raises money for Ben's Den, which is the
name for two caravans it owns in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, and
which provide free holidays for families of children with
cancer.
The Trust is run by Tracey and Darren Parker and named after
their son, Ben, who lost his brave battle with leukaemia in 2003,
aged just 13. This year, the year in which Ben would have
celebrated his 21st birthday, Tracy and Darren need to replace one
of the caravans, at an estimated cost of £15,000.
Neil Barnes, managing principal at Robinsons Solicitors, said:
"We are all extremely grateful to Dave for lending his support to
our fundraising efforts. Nobody is more qualified to offer advice
when it comes to cycling and our riders will benefit enormously
from what he has to tell them.
"His advice will certainly come in useful. The Ben Parker Trust
is a tremendous charity and we are determined to raise as much
money as we can in what is a significant year for Tracey and
Darren."
Dave, who lives in Ilkeston and is also the general manager of
the Team Sky professional road racing cycling team, added: "I wish
all the riders taking part in Robinsons Solicitors' fundraising
efforts this year the very best of luck.
"It's always great to see people enjoying cycling, especially
when they are using the sport to raise money for good causes at the
same time."