ERA Ride The Regions Success
“We did it!” was the jubilant cry from the heroic Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) team who completed the gruelling ‘Ride The Regions’ cycle adventure from Edinburgh to Southampton – in only six days.
Organised in aid of the Ben Gannon Appeal, son of ERA franchise partner Lorraine Gannon, the intrepid journey started on the 10th July in Edinburgh, and ended in Southampton on 16th – with a core group of riders accompanied by a support van, food stations and many other ERA consultants who rode various legs of the journey.
As well as aiming to raise funds for an important cause, over £7,500 has been donated so far, the event gave ERA members the opportunity to attend regional meetings at each stopover, in Manchester, Birmingham, Bedford and Slough – meaning the entire UK network touched base at some point throughout the week. Making such connections is essential in fostering mutually beneficial relationships with consultants across the network for future projects together – and for making new friends within the ERA family.
Key statistics for the ride show what an incredible achievement it was, with the team cycling a total of 546 miles and each spending just over 39 hours in the saddle. With an average speed of around 14 mph, and a top speed of nearly 40 – it’s also easy to see how the team as a whole burnt around 32,660 calories. However, the great cause they were riding for more than compensated for those painful legs at the finish line.
10-year-old Ben suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy – a condition that affects all his limbs – and as a result is confined to a wheelchair. Growing fast, he requires a mobility walker and walking frame that must be constantly updated to support his muscle growth, plus regular physio sessions and expensive specialist glasses. So all the money raised will be life changing. “A big thank you to all those who have donated,” says Ben’s mum Lorraine – who also took part in the ride. “This has been a truly amazing effort by everyone involved and we’re extremely grateful for your support.”
“There’s a real sense of achievement at what we’ve accomplished,” says ERA Head of Operations Paul Lewis, who organised the event. “We’ve raised a lot of money for a great cause, and successfully bought together the whole ERA network in the process. I’d like to offer my congratulations and thanks to everyone who took part or supported us.”
