M&S team cycling to Paris for three worthy causes in Ellesmere Port

PEDAL power has propelled charity cyclists all the way to Paris.

Employees from M&S, Simons Group and How Planning teamed up to cycle from Cheshire Oaks to M&S Paris in aid of local charities.

The intrepid foursome, Robert Morray and James Rayner from the M&S property team, Chris Newsome of Simons and Richard Woodford from How Planning, set off from M&S Cheshire Oaks on Friday. They hope to arrive at the Champs-Élysées store in Paris tomorrow (Thursday) evening.

The aim is to raise £10,000 for three charities in the Ellesmere Port area.

One charity to benefit will be The OASIS Centre for Young People, which runs youth projects and a junior youth club. The centre is run by a voluntary management committee which employs the staff to run the junior club.

Golden Star ABC Sports and Fitness Centre, an amateur boxing club that works with children and young people aged nine upwards will also receive a cash boost. The club is open three nights a week and is appealing for more funding to extend its services.

The third charity to benefit is EPC Gymnastics in Ellesmere Port, which provides projects to engage disadvantaged young people.

The team of riders are also commemorating seven years of partnership throughout the development of M&S Cheshire Oaks. Simons was the developer and main contractor for M&S Cheshire Oaks, while How managed its planning.

Rob Morray, property planning manager for M&S, said: “While we’re all keen cyclists, this will be the furthest any of us have cycled.”