Many thanks for your donation to Onwards & Upwards. We managed 107 km including Box Hill and Leith Hill - despite being reduced to 2 gears for 70 km due to mechanical failure. More importantly so far we have raised over £6,500 and the whole event is closing in on £100,000.

A few photos are attached, together with a link to a speech by Dayrell, an ex offender who, by his own admission, was a mentally ill, drug addicted, criminal who had passed through the portals of Wandsworth prison in a van on 5 occasions.

Onwards & Upwards was founded to break the cycle of reoffending, creating sustainable social ventures to train, mentor and employ ex-offenders.

XO Bikes is their first venture and trains people who have recently left prison to become qualified bike mechanics, giving them the support to build stable foundations for their life ahead, guide them towards meaningful employment, break the cycle of repeat offending and build a positive and productive life on the outside.

Dayrell's speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDEdT9nwucc

If you are interested in finding out more (or joining a team for next year's event !) click on any of the 3 links below.

BBC Crimewatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os8I6aWECbs

BBC Radio 4 Cafe Hope

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xwqv

Onwards and Upwards

https://www.onwardsandupwards.uk/