Bristol to Dublin fundraiser begins with donation to Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.
The Light Fund has kicked off its biggest fundraiser to date – a four-day 325-mile bike ride from Bristol to Dublin involving 65 licensing executives from across the UK industry – with a donation to Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal at Aardman Animations in Bristol today.
Ian Hyder, one of the founders of The Light Fund and joint md of Max Publishing, presented a cheque for £5,000 to Anna Shepherd from The Grand Appeal.
The Wallace & Gromit characters were on hand for the celebration, together with Aardman’s head of licensing, Rob Goodchild, who is also taking part in the cycle event.
At 6am tomorrow (Tuesday June 12), the team of cyclists will leave Bristol to cycle 102 miles in one day to reach Llanelli, South Wales.
Along the way they will make a second £5,000 donation to Tŷ Hafan, a Welsh hospice charity, supported by Newport-based confectionery specialist Bon Bon Buddies.
Other beneficiaries from the funds raised by the bike ride will be announced by The Light Fund committee later this year.
The ride is aiming to raise at least £150,000 for The Light Fund.
“It has taken 18 months to plan, but the 2018 Light Fund Cycle Tour from Bristol to Dublin has brought together the UK licensing industry like never before – there will be top industry players riding alongside junior execs, all tackling the hills together, while the rest of the industry is giving us their support via sponsorship,” commented Ian.
“We are confident we’ll smash our target of raising £150k+ and all of that money will go to good causes. It is wonderful to start the tour here in Bristol – Aardman’s home – with a donation to the Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.”
(Pictured below, left to right: Ian Hyder, joint md, Max Publishing; Rob Goodchild, head of licensing, Aardman; Alison Vellacott, director, Highlight PR; Hannah Mungo, country director UK and Ireland, Universal Brand Development; and Warren Traegar, The Light Fund committee.)
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