Created in 2006, Le Loop cycling event raises funds for the William Wates Memorial Trust (WWMT) to help keep disadvantaged young people away from a life of crime and violence. Le Loop sees riders take on the infamous route of the Tour de France one week before it takes place.
This year, 26 employees at Alitex, including owner of the company Tom Hall, will be taking on stages six and seven of the route covering over 225km in a bid to raise £30,000 for the charity. The money raised will help fund initiatives like boxing clubs and children’s groups across London, Hampshire, and Surrey to create positive change in local communities and encourage young people to fulfil their potential. Alitex has been participating in Le Loop since 2013, and has impressively, raised over £5 million for the WWMT to date.
A passionate cyclist, Hall first got involved in the challenge when he joined a friend for a couple of stages during the 2010 event. Having participated in the event since 2012, Hall encourages the Alitex team to join him every year. This time, he will be joined by employees from a variety of departments across the company including Senior Sales Designers Mark Cooper and James Whittle, Head of Finance Lucy Forbes, Marketing Manager Tash Crowe, and Learning and Development Coordinator Jo Lee. Each employee’s decision to take part stems from a variety of motivations, from seeking a personal challenge or achieving a fitness goal to honouring loved ones.
“Le Loop is about more than just cycling, it’s about pushing your limits, supporting a great cause, and coming together as a team. When I first got involved with Le Loop in 2010, I was immediately struck by the camaraderie amongst the other cyclists and the personal reward I felt from long-distance cycling. After recognising the incredible impact that taking on a challenge of this nature had on me, I invited my employees at Alitex to join me, hoping it would encourage an even greater sense of unity within the company and promote the importance of personal growth and well-being outside of work. It’s immensely empowering to witness the determination among our team as we all prepare for the event, and I am immeasurably proud of everyone taking part” said Hall.
In preparation, the Alitex team completed a practice ride around the Isle of Wight on 7th June, covering an impressive 65 miles. This initial challenge was set to drum up extra donations, prepare the team for the demands of cycling extreme distances and motivate them as they gear up for the main event at the end of the month.
Alitex has also been hosting a number of fundraising activities to drive donations from friends, family and the local community, from pub quizzes and car washes to an eBay auction and summer fete. Contributions to the can be made via the Alitex’s fundraising page.