Riding for Renewable Energy

August 5, 2016

Earth Wind & Tyre raises £60,000

In June, the Renewable World team once again hit the road and travelled up to Durham for the second annual Earth Wind & Tyre cycle challenge, an event that celebrates renewable energy and the power it holds to transform our world.

This year’s event saw 50 cyclists take part, some repeat offenders as well as lots of new faces, all of them ready to take on the 200-mile, leg-testing route.

Pedalling to power people out of poverty

As well as being a challenging event (the two-day route climbs a total of  4,137m!), Earth Wind & Tyre also helps us raise much-needed funds for our renewable energy projects in Kenya, Nepal, Bangladesh and Nicaragua.

Leading up to the event, each participant worked hard to reach their £500 fundraising target; telling their own stories on their JustGiving pages about why raising funds for Renewable World was so important to them. Many riders wrote about the provision of affordable and reliable energy services, empowering people in these areas to lift themselves out of poverty. Energy that helps keep homes smoke-free, raises people’s incomes, creates time for education and improves health.

The ride

On the morning of 25 June, these 50 intrepid cyclists set off from the EDF ER offices, just outside of Durham, to begin the first leg of their 200-mile journey. Their anticipation and excitement was palpable in the parking lot as they registered, picking up their event jerseys, cycling caps and water bottles. They made their way north through County Durham and Northumberland, all the way up to Kielder Water, where they spent the night.

The next day they crossed into Scotland, cycling through some of the most beautiful but challenging terrain. The first riders made it to the finish line at Canongate Kirk Church, on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, at around 3pm, and the last few determined riders came in at about 8:30pm. Feeling incredibly proud of their achievement, they were given medals, changed into dry clothes and only had to walk a few steps to the Kilderkin pub to celebrate.

What was Earth Wind & Tyre like as a participant?

Here’s what a couple of this year’s participants had to say about their experience.

“The other cyclists and Renewable World support team were so enthusiastic and friendly that it really helped to keep me going.” – Caroline Gutridge

“Good fun, hard cycling (not for the faint-hearted), but most of all it raised a significant amount of money.” – Colin Scott

Read their full accounts here.

All in all, thanks to the tireless fundraising efforts of the participants and the generous support from our sponsors, the event has raised an incredible £60,000. These funds will help us continue our life-changing work, using renewable energy to power people out of poverty.

Thank you to our event sponsors

Earth Wind & Tyre 2016 was proudly sponsored by:

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All photos of the event are thanks to: Shahid Chohan Photography