Surrey volunteer wins national award with cycling charity
Alice Holt provides a range of adapted cycles for people with different disabilities and learning difficulties. Peter attends sessions every Thursday and gets the bikes out in all weathers - rain, shine and occasional snow - and puts them all back again at the end of the day, with a smile and cheery word for everyone.
Over the years, Peter has built up a team of six volunteers to help with the servicing and cleaning of the bikes, but in the past he has had to do this on his own.
Peter said: “I felt honoured that my friends at Alice Holt had thought enough of me to put my name forward in the first place. Having been presented with the award I tried to say ‘thank you’ and tell the audience why I like working with our disabled clients, but emotion got in the way so I was only able to tell them how much our clients loved cycling in the forest.
“I work with a wonderful team of friends and we are able to use our adapted bikes to give people who are less fortunate than ourselves the pleasure, thrill and fun of cycling in a safe and pleasant environment.
“There is nothing more satisfying than to see them enjoying themselves and to get to know them as individuals, laughing and singing some of their favourite songs with them. It really is a pleasure for us as volunteers and the feedback we get keeps us doing it week in and week out.”
Alex Cuppleditch, Head of Volunteering at Cycling UK said: “Peter has become invaluable to the Alice Holt’s smooth running, and Cycling UK are very pleased to recognise his enthusiasm and the great care he has for the needs of disabled cyclists.”
Notes to editors
- Cycling UK, the national cycling charity, inspires and helps people to cycle and keep cycling, whatever kind of cycling they do or would like to do. Over a century’s experience tells us that cycling is more than useful transport; it makes you feel good, gives you a sense of freedom and creates a better environment for everyone. www.cyclinguk.org
- Cycling UK's Volunteer of the Year Awards are given annually to recognise and celebrate all the incredible work volunteers do to encourage others to start cycling and keep cycling. This year’s winners were announced at Cycling UK’s Big Bike Celebration in Harrogate on Saturday 6 October. There were ten categories this year. For more information, visit https://www.cyclinguk.org/about/volunteers-year-awards
- Images of this year’s winners can be found here: https://www.skyfish.com/p/cyclinguk/1328674
- More information about Alice Holt can be found on its website: https://aliceholtinclusivecycling.com/
Press contact information
For more information, interview requests and images contact the national Cycling UK Press Office on 01483 238 315, 07786 320 713 or email publicity@cyclinguk.org
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