The IBC Buying Group team has smashed its fundraising target and raised £7,000 in support of Unitas – part of the national OnSide Youth Zones charity.

Unitas is currently attempting to raise a total of £15,000 as part of its ‘Great Strides for Youth’ campaign, so the north London-based youth zone can transform its outdoor space to better support local young people. They have asked for a space where the children can learn how to grow food, and which can also be used for events, parties, performances and even film screenings.

Allneeds Group is a patron of Unitas, and a long-time supporter of their work. This incorporates IBC alongside sister company C3 Alliance. The IBC team wanted to do its bit to help the young people in Barnet who rely on the centre, and so embarked on an ambitious Bike Challenge to support the campaign. 

IBC Commercial Director Dave Robertson cycled 1,000 miles in nine days – all without leaving his home. He plotted the 980-mile route from Lands End to John O’Groats, then cycled it all on a stationary bike, with his entire ‘journey’ streamed online via Microsoft Teams so that people could join in and cheer him on.

Robertson completed the challenge by cycling more than six hours a day in 27 virtual stages between 24 March and 1 April. He even added an extra 20 miles to his 'journey' to make it an even 1,000 miles trip.

He was joined by dozens of friends and colleagues, even holding business meetings while cycling an average 20 miles an hour. Many others from the industry joined in, getting on their own bikes and cycling a stage with him before making a donation to the cause.

Members of the Team IBC often joined Robertson on his cycling stages, while also setting their own personal challenges.

Divisional Manager Ross Travers raised over £1,000 by running 50 km in nine days, while Marketing Manager Tony Newcombe made it a family affair by encouraging his family to come together and cycle the 980-mile distance, giving them between 24 March and 4 May to do so – and they are well on their way to achieving their goal.

Robertson said: “I can’t thank the IBC Members and Key Suppliers enough for their continued support. So many people joined us to cycle or run alongside us, or to come and cheer us on.”

He is passionate about Unitas' work to support young people and give them the best possible start in life, which is what inspired him to take up the challenge. He explained: “I can look back on my career and identify someone who truly believed in me and gave me an opportunity that made a real difference in my life. That’s what we wanted to do – give other young people the chance to transform their lives.

“The wonderful Unitas Youth Zone charity in Barnet affords so many of the local kids a safe and welcoming environment where they can socialise, get involved in exciting activities and learn new skills that will help them develop into confident and capable young people. We must remember, today’s youth will be the very people we will want to join our businesses in the future.”

The Unitas campaign has already raised over £13,000 of its ultimate goal, but there is still time to support them

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