Social Enterprise Manager at Pluss Guy Eatherington is gearing up to cycle the length of Britain in support of the Big Society, and he is hoping to recruit the Prime Minister to lend his support along the way.
Guy’s ambition, when he sets off from John O`Groats on July 29th, will be to cycle 125 miles a day, completing his solo marathon ride all the way to Lands End, weather permitting, in 8 days. But before the big day comes the big practice, and the opportunity this week to drop off a personal invite for the Prime Minister….
Not content with regular training rides of up to 200 miles with other members of his local Cycle Touring Club, 40 year old Guy will be attending a professional conference in Blackpool this week – only to then cycle 303 miles all the way back home to Devon.
He will also be making a lengthy detour on the way home to call in at 10 Downing Street in order to deliver a personal invitation to David Cameron. Guy hopes the Prime Minister, who is a keen cyclist himself, will join him on the Exeter section of his epic ride when Guy will take a home town salute from locals including wife Nikki and children, Charlotte and Joseph.
So what will they talk about if Mr. Cameron takes up the challenge? “I would love to know a bit about the person, not the politician” says Guy, “and perhaps what he would be doing if he wasn’t in politics.”
The Prime Ministers idea of the Big Society is one that is close to Guy’s heart. Guy himself is the Community Equipment Services Manager for Pluss, the country’s biggest Social Firm, which supports thousands of people with disabilities and other disadvantages into employment each year.
Guy’s charity ride aims to raise more than £10,000 for two other third sector organisations which help people to achieve their full potential at either end of their lives, Vranch House, a school and treatment centre in Exeter for children with physical disabilities, and the Alzheimers Society.
Guy says “The end to end challenge, I hope, will help raise awareness and money for the disabled community across a broad spectrum of ages from one end of the age spectrum to the other.
My aim is to raise £10,000 – 1,000 miles at £10 a mile,” said Guy. “I’m happy if people give more and I’m happy if people give less. I would just like to make a difference – it is a long way to pedal!” What’s more, there is also a personal motive behind this project. “Two years ago,” adds Guy, “I lost a very good friend, Guy Gregory, at just 38. During our formative years we enjoyed doing charity work together, and this event feels like a fitting tribute to a much loved friend.”
That’s why, when the National Association of Equipment Providers (NAEP) close their Blackpool conference on Thursday, Guy will saddle up and head for home the long way, via Downing Street, carrying an invitation for the Prime Minister to back Guy in his own Big Society mission at the end of next month.
Notes for Editors
1. Please see attached photos of Guy and Guy’s letter to David Cameron. 2. To sponsor Guy contact guy.eatherington@pluss.org.uk 3. For more information about Pluss, visit www.pluss.org.uk 4. To speak to Guy directly ring 07768 606725 5. For more information on Pluss please contact Geraldine Scott-Smith on 07766 367267 6. To find out more about Guy’s chosen charities visit www.vranchhouse.org and www.alzheimers.org.uk 7. Pluss is the largest Social Firm in the UK. It helps over 2,000 people across the South West into work each year. Pluss is owned by Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council and Somerset Council. With its Exeter roots, Pluss is expanding rapidly and now operates throughout the South West (A ‘Top 500 Business’) and Yorkshire.