Colleagues from Wilo UK are planning on virtually cycling 1,700 miles from our head office in Burton-Upon-Trent, England to the new factory in Dortmund, Germany to raise funds for Maggie's, a charity providing free cancer support and information in centres across the UK and online.

We will be setting up static exercise bikes in our office and colleagues will also be out and about on road bikes in their spare time to help us reach the total mileage.

Your support and sponsorship will help us achieve our aim of raising £10,000 to help Maggie's provide vital support to those affected by cancer and their families.

Maggies helps people take back control when cancer turns life upside down, with professional support for everything from treatment side effects to money worries.

Maggies has pioneered a programme of psychological, practical, and social support available free of charge to people with any type of cancer delivered by an expert team, including cancer support specialists, clinical psychologists, benefits advisors, nutritionists and relaxation therapists. Support by professional staff is available face to face in the centre or by phone, email or online to help people with stress, fear and anxiety as well as money worries and questions about treatment.

Its hard to believe it has been over a year since the start of the pandemic a year in which people with cancer have faced unprecedented levels of anxiety and trauma as a result of delayed diagnosis and treatment, or cancelled surgeries.

Maggies has been there throughout. They kept their doors open when face to face support was urgently needed, but rarely available elsewhere and adapted to provide many groups and sessions online for those at home shielding.

It will take many years for the hidden impact of the pandemic on cancer services to be fully realised. But people with cancer will desperately need Maggies support in the immediate weeks and months to come.