BP cyclists gear up for One Team Cycle Ride

A record number of BP employees will take to the roads of Surrey on Friday September 6 for BP’s annual charity bike ride, the BP One Team Cycle Ride, which raises money for the British Paralympic Association.

The event – now in its ninth year – is set to see more than 330 BP staff members take on one of three routes covering either 25km, 50km or 100km around the picturesque – and sometimes hilly – roads near Dorking.

With every cyclist donating an entrance fee, this year the ride is expected to raise more than £10,000 for the BPA.

In addition, BP generously offer to match the donations - which means that an even higher target can be reached. So it’s no surprise the BP One Team Cycle Ride is on course to be the BPA’s biggest charity fundraising event of 2019.

One participant hoping to complete the longest route is David Shaw, who works as an Original Equipment Manufacturer Liason Manager at BP’s Pangbourne office.

The 32-year-old, who joined BP just over 12 months ago, believes the event not only serves as a great opportunity to meet up with colleagues from around the country, he is also pleased “to have that attachment to a good cause as well.”

He explained: “When I joined the company last year I saw everybody getting their BP jerseys and I came in having just missed out. I thought it looked a lot of fun and something I could do as well.

“Its one of the bigger events (for BP staff); lots of people have participated in previous years and lots of people ride to work in Pangbourne, so it makes sense those two go together. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Australian-born Shaw is hoping to complete his 100km bike ride in under three hours – weather permitting - although he’s equally happy to spend time cycling with others and making new friends.

“I’ve always loved riding, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to do that and see some of the British countryside while I’m at it. But being new to the team as well, it’s a great opportunity to meet with everyone.

“It’s great to be supporting the BPA – an organisation that helps ParalympicsGB athletes push their limits, achieve amazing things and ultimately inspire the wider community.”

Jonathan Richards, a Reporting and Metrics, Ethics and Compliance Manager at BP and former British Army Officer, is no stranger to the BP One Team event, having completed the ride last year.

Richards, 41, also believes the event helps bring together likeminded friends and colleagues from across the BP centres while providing participants with a “sense of achievement, fulfilment and wellbeing”.

Speaking about the relationship with the BPA, he recognises that the event helps raise vital funds for the ParalympicsGB team ahead of Tokyo 2020, which he feels adds an even greater sense of purpose to the day.

“I can’t help but feel a sense of pride seeing the turnout and the spirit of BP colleagues and BPA representatives on the day…epic really isn’t it!”