Norwood puts wheels in motion for fundraising

NORWOOD HOPES to be back on the road — literally — to physical fundraising at the end of next month with a cycle challenge in the Lake District.

The challenge programme at home and abroad has been a staple of the charity’s annual income and it estimates that the cancellation of events since the lockdown has potentially cost it £500,000.

After months of solitary cycling around their locality, supporters have been enthusiastically signing up for the Lake District event, with Norwood promising “exhilarating descents, testing climbs and the camaraderie and spirit that Norwood challenges are renowned for”.

However, the charity is doubtful about the prospects for overseas events scheduled for later in the year.

Despite the pandemic, some fundraising

Cycling challenges have proved profitable for Norwood down the years activities have gone ahead, thanks to a little creative thinking.

One was the annual sponsored walk in memory of solictor Michael Phillips — an early adopter of Norwood challenges, regularly joining cycles in Israel with friends and colleagues — who died suddenly in 1999 at the age of 44.

This year, family members split the walk into household groups. “We didn’t want to cancel,” said Abbie Woodrow, 29, Mr Phillips’ daughter.

“The good thing about it this year was that for the first time we could include all our family members who live abroad.

“We all did our own walks wherever we were and added fun elements such as counting our steps to see who did the most and taking photographs on our walks of anything starting with my dad’s initials. It felt really special and different.”

She was pleased that Norwood now supported bereaved families. “My dad would have loved that as much as he loved cycling.”

We did a walk in household groups. We didn’t want to cancel’