Father of two raises £2,000 for youth charity in just two weeks

A father of two from Berkhamsted has committed to a 900 mile charity cycle ride and smashed his £2,000 fundraising target in just two weeks.
Andrew Doran, 38, signed up for the challenge of a lifetime on a spur of the moment – he’ll be part of a team riding 900 miles through nine countries in just nine days. ‘Ride 999’ supports Get Connected, the UK’s free and confidential helpline for under 25s, whatever they’re facing.

The challenge will take in nine countries from London to Milan, between 23 May – 1 June, and still has 15 spaces left for riders at any level.

Andrew says: “The past couple of weeks have been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster! I really did worry I wouldn’t be able to reach the sponsorship target, but the response I’ve had has been overwhelming, humbling and really quite poignant. Get Connected provide such a vital service to young people who have an issue they don’t know how to deal with – it can be anything from mental health issues or money worries through to homelessness or abuse. I dealt with a period of depression and anxiety at uni, and while I was lucky enough to find support, not everyone knows where to find or how to access help. That’s where Get Connected come in.”

Genevieve Hinchliff, Fundraising and Events Officer at Get Connected, says: “We’re really excited about this new challenge and hugely grateful to everyone taking part and sponsoring riders for helping to raise much-needed funds. As demand for our service grows and grows, this event could raise enough money to support more than 250,000 vulnerable children and young people in the coming year.”

Andrew says now he can concentrate on training as well as raising funds, and is really looking forward to the challenge. He says: “Fingers crossed I can raise even more by the time the event comes around. I’m looking forward to meeting my fellow riders, taking in some stunning scenery and most of all, crossing the finish line!”

Find out more about joining the Ride 999 team before 2 February at www.getconnected.org.uk/ride999

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS: For more information or accompanying images please contact Catherine Sweet, Marketing & Communications Manager at Get Connected: 020 7009 2516 / catherine sweet@getconnected.org.uk

· Get Connected is the free, confidential & multi-issue national helpline service supporting vulnerable young people under 25 all over the UK. Last year 180,378 young people accessed our services and we anticipate demand in the next year to exceed 250,000 children and young people.

· Get Connected is registered charity number 1081840 and depends entirely on voluntary donations. Get Connected is a key partner of Child Helpline International, a global network of 173 child helplines in 142 countries.

· We offer support over the phone, via email, text and web chat, as well as providing an online directory of help services and a free app for iOS and Android.

· Ride 999 aims to raise enough money to run our helpline for one year. More information about the challenge is online at www.getconnected.org.uk/ride999

Andrew Doran’s donation page can be found at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=AndrewDoran