A team of volunteer cyclists are hoping to turn pedal power into pounds with a charity bike ride spanning the length of a nation.

Colleagues from UK recruiter Acorn and leading house builder Edenstone Group have joined forces to cycle from North Wales all the way to the South in the space of just two days.

The team of six hope to raise £10,000 in aid of mental health charity Mind UK after completing the 206 mile stretch from Holyhead to Cardiff Bay in Acorn’s 30th anniversary year.

Bernard Ward, Managing Director at Acorn Recruitment, said: “We are celebrating Acorn’s 30th birthday throughout the year and supporting our chosen charity for 2022 seemed like a great way to mark the occasion. Cycling 100 miles in a day is a big undertaking in itself, but when that is being done on two consecutive days with a combined elevation of 17,000 feet, that’s even tougher going.

“But we also know that one in four people experience mental health issues and that Mind UK is a fantastic organisation which helps those who are suffering to continue climbing their own personal mountains too. As a company, mental health and wellbeing is our top priority” Bernard continued.

“If we can raise £10,000 to continue supporting those who need help, after what has been a challenging time for many people in recent years, that will be celebration enough for us.”

Operations Manager, Osian John and his colleague from Acorn, Director of Operations, Marc Jones, joined pedals with Edenstone Group’s Operations Director Chris Edge, Build Director Mike Huddleston, Finance Director Stuart Rodden and Project Manager Phil Bindon for the ride.

Together, the cyclists had already raised more than half of their £10,000 target ahead of their departure on June 11th through their Just Giving page, alongside the good will of colleagues, family and friends, with hopes to double the amount following completion of the ride itself.

Chris said: “We’ve always had a great relationship with the team at Acorn, and when we heard about their cycling challenge to raise £10,000 in celebration of their 30^th anniversary, we thought it was a great opportunity to support them as well as a hugely worthy cause in Mind UK too.”

Anyone keen to make a donation in support of either organisation can visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AcornHousingCyclingChallenge