On the 18 July eight Unilever employees embarked on an ambitious cycling challenge to raise money for malaria. Whilst a few of the team are used to donning their cycling helmets, for some it was a completely new experience. After many a training session to build up the miles and test the bikes, the challenge started on a typically wet British summer’s day!

The group was split in two with the more experienced cyclists, Clive Allison and Chris Loxley, riding from the Unilever Research & Development lab in Port Sunlight to Unilever House, the company headquarters in central London: a total 207 miles in one day!

At the same time Rob Chatfield, Ben Diamant, Dan Lowrie, Jeremy Basset, Andrew Jamieson and Julia Rogers cycled from Colworth House in Sharnbrook to Unilever House covering over 70 miles in one day. They did so well they even managed to fit in a sausage and egg butty to help keep them going!

Their inspiration for raising funds for malaria came from their joint experiences of visiting and working in countries where malaria is endemic. Chris, research scientist at Port Sunlight, explained: “Our team work a lot in developing and emerging markets, especially Africa, India and Indonesia. We have all spent time with people who have to live with the anxiety and stress of coping with the threat of insect-borne disease, so in some small way we wanted to make a difference.”

Even with the weather being so dreadful both groups did incredibly well and all finished in one piece to the applause of other employees at Unilever headquarters!

The team had a goal of raising £2,000 but we are really pleased to announce that they have exceeded this by some way and have raised in excess of £3,600; and money is still coming in! Everyone here at Malaria No More UK would like to say a huge thank you for their support and fantastic fundraising efforts.

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