The ride starts Saturday 8th August arriving at Lands End Tuesday 11th August.On a quiet night, two brothers formulated a plan that they would like to complete a bit of a bike ride. This then turned in to visiting family that they haven’t seen for many months. So they thought that cycling from Stafford to Lands End in Cornwall would be fun!!!

Ben and Tom Colley are no strangers to being on a bike having completed many long distance rides and many road and mountain bike races between them. They certainly have experience, but this is perhaps one of their biggest challenges to date. Cycling over 360 miles over 4 days for 4 charities that are close to their hearts. Joining them are their wives, who are providing support crew back up in case of any mechanicals, and Ben’s two sons – Charlie and Lewis – who, not wanting to miss out on the fun, have decided to join Ben and Tom for a section of each days ride.

This really is a family effort to raise funds for the 4 charities detailed below. It will be a tough ride and your donations will be so appreciated by the charities and community groups that will benefit from the funds. So many people and groups need support right now which is why we have decided to nominate multiple charities – the details are listed below.

Charity 1 – The Masonic Charitable Foundation Samaritan Fund

The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country. It works with a number of local charities and community projects, providing grants that support Freemasons, their families and the wider community.

Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, and despite the normal means of fundraising had been effectively wiped out overnight, the Masonic Charitable Foundation has still been able to support the local community through financial assistance as well as physical support. The local Province ensured carers had the essential equipment they required to carry out their valuable work; financial assistance was provided to local schools so they could make visors for the NHS; grants were made to the local Blood Bikes team to support them to distribute the visors; purchasing shower gel and shampoo to hardworking NHS staff so they could wash thoroughly after their shifts; supporting those with additional demands on their services, such as local hospices and refuge centres.

All of these examples are just the tip of the iceberg and to date the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) has donated just under £40,000 to several local charities. Plus, as well as financial donations, they have created a ‘Meals-on-Wheels’ delivery service for those is need within the local area to ensure people had hot meals alongside doing shopping and prescription collections for those unable to get about.

Now that their usual methods of funding are virtually non-existent, the charity needs more donations in order to keep their good work going throughout the local communities.

Charity 2 - Staffordshire 2024 Festival

In a direct link with the Masonic Charitable Foundation (our first charity), some of the donations will be going to the Staffordshire 2024 Festival. This is a fundraising appeal which raises money for the Masonic Charitable Foundation and it usually runs for five years. These are a vital source of funding so that a number of grants of financial assistance can be given to a number of local charities and community projects so they can continue to grow and support many who are in need.

Charity 3 - Combat Stress

This is the leading UK charity for veterans’ mental health. They supply specialist treatment and support for former servicemen and women with a variety of mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. We know a number of people who have been in the services and have greatly appreciated the support provided by Combat Stress. It is such a worthwhile cause to support.

Charity 4 - Katharine House Hospice

This local hospice provides care and support to patients and their families, ensuring they live life as fully as possible in a welcoming, warm and safe environment. They provide a range of services which offer holistic care and support for people with advanced life-limited conditions all of which are offered free of charge. They rely on the kindness and generosity of the local community to help generate the funds they vitally need to continue to provide the excellent care they give.

I think there are few in Staffordshire who do not know about Katharine House Hospice and equally few who haven’t had some experience of the excellent care they provide. Our family is no different and what support they give is amazing and the donations you make will be out to much needed use by them.