COVENTRY: After a gruelling 11-day bike ride, Jewson staff, suppliers and customers have completed the Tour de Jewson.

The event was organised to raise funds for Help the Hospices, the leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK, and whilst the initial target was £10 000, the final total looks set to hit £15 000.

The event saw a total of 161 cyclists taking part, which included four Jewson customers, six suppliers, one world champion and 150 Jewson staff from all departments across the business. The budding athletes covered over 8398 miles, which took in three supplier locations, two football stadiums, 11 regional centres, 68 branches and the Jewson head office in Binley.

Peter Hindle MBE, managing director of Jewson commented: “I’m delighted that the Tour de Jewson has managed to raise such a significant sum of money for Help the Hospices. It’s a truly worthwhile cause and the contribution we can now make to the charity is a real testament to all those who dedicated time, effort and willpower to take part in the event.”

John Ryszkowski, national account manager at Wavin, commented: "As a Jewson supplier, we jumped at the chance to be the main sponsor of the Tour de Jewson. With just a little bit of training behind me, I was keen to start my 30-mile cycle to Binley Business Park, Coventry.  I am very proud to be involved in an event which works towards helping such a worth while cause.”

Since its launch in 2002, Jewson’s ‘together’ charity programme has raised over £1.6m for major causes, including the British Heart Foundation, Great Ormond Street and Cancer Research UK. The programme encourages Jewson staff, their families, customers and suppliers to organise and participate in a range of activities to support the nominated charity through fundraising and volunteering.

July 2009 saw the launch of the ‘together’ partnership between Help the Hospices and Jewson, with almost 500 sites twinned with their local hospice.