HEALD CYCLISTS COMPLETE THE FIFTH EXTRA-MILE CHALLENGE

The Heald Solicitors Extra Mile Four Nations Challenge saw 184 men and women from the local business community set off from Namur, Belgium on 21st September, 2007 to cycle in relay some 500 miles in teams of four via France, Germany and Luxembourg before returning to Belgium at Dinant. The challenge was for each team to complete the distance and for the event as a whole to raise over £100,000 for charity. This follows the success of our four previous challenges which raised more than £324,000 in all. Heald Solicitors are the principal sponsors of the organising charity, Extra Mile Challenges, and our Senior Partner, Martin Banham-Hall is Chairman of its Trustees.

Tragically, on the very first morning, Gary Godleman a rider with one of two teams from F & R Cawley Waste Management, suffered a suspected massive heart attack from which he died instantly. While his team mates understandably withdrew, they insisted that the remaining 44 teams (176 riders) should press on, as Gary would have wanted that. It is heartening that in such tragic circumstances all were determined to complete the work on which Gary had embarked, of going the extra mile to raise funds for people in need.

More happily, all the remaining teams completed the challenge safely. There was a huge sense of achievement for the route through the Ardennes Forest and Mosel region was quite hilly. It was clear from the feedback at the end of the Challenge that all are now equally determined, in Gary's memory, to raise as much as possible for the good causes supported by the event. Extra Mile Challenges itself will allocate £3,000 from funds destined for charities it selects, equally between the charities supported by each of the Cawley teams and one which Gary's widow, Clare, has been invited to nominate.

Extra Mile Challenges has a good safety record and takes great pains over risk assessment and the provision of safety advice and a team of supporting marshals, including a doctor. We are proud of our association with Extra Mile Challenges. The charity has stated that it will examine all the circumstances very carefully – to see what can be learned, and ensure that its future events are as safe, as well run and as enjoyable as it can make them.

One third of all funds raised (after the £3,000 mentioned above) plus tax reclaimed under Gift Aid, will be split between:-

• Dreamflight which takes disabled and seriously ill children on the holiday of a lifetime to the Florida theme parks
• InterAction MK which gives youngsters with learning disabilities the opportunity to extend themselves through theatre and arts based projects; and
• MK Grand Union Rotary Bursary Fund which makes awards to needy students aiming for a career in Community Service

The remaining two thirds of funds received from each team goes to a charity of that team's own choice. Heald teams are supporting Bedford Hospital's, Primrose Cancer Appeal and ARCA, a mission to street children in the equatorial City of Belem, Brazil.

If you would like to donate, please send a cheque payable to Extra Mile Challenges to Martin Banham-Hall at our office. If you tell us that Gift Aid should apply, and give us your house name/number and postcode, Extra Mile Challenges will be able to reclaim tax boosting the value of your gift by some 28%. Alternatively, you can donate on line by credit card at www.justgiving.com/healdwheeled However, the operator of the Just Giving website is a commercial organisation unconnected with us, which will deduct fees of about 7% of all donations before sending the net amount to us.

If you would like to know more about the Heald Solicitors Extra Mile Challenges, please contact Martin Banham-Hall on 01908 355428 or at Martin.Banham-Hall@healdlaw.com

Filed: 10/11/2007 12:02:24