The value of team spirit!

Last week our lovely staff went on a challenging bike ride together to raise funds for Steps Leicestershire Conductive Education Centre in Shepshed, Leicestershire, which is the main charity that Mike and I support.

The bike ride had started in the Spring of this year with the idea that, cumulatively, the staff would cycle the 2,775 miles which is the distance of the circumference of the UK and, by doing so, raise sponsorship to support Steps. With the end of the year approaching it was decided to hold a half day bike ride and the more folk that joined in the fewer miles everyone had to cycle to meet the grand total of 2,775 Miles. In the end the distance to be cycled by everyone was 17 miles.

So, last Wednesday, in the middle of a gale and torrential rain, it was decided to close the office and mount the bikes. Sadly (?) I couldn’t participate myself as I had a prior speaking engagement in Essex that evening, but the majority of the office staff did cycle with a few volunteering to prepare refreshments - faggots and mushy peas and soup and bread - when the cyclists returned.

Of course there were a few punctures, minor accidents when riders fell off in the mud, but all in all it was, by all accounts, a fantastic afternoon. Our housekeeper and our gardener were the marshals on the course, and indeed everyone was involved. Despite them all returning back at Quorn House totally frozen, soaked and exhausted, the overall feeling was that of elation! They had pushed themselves, encouraged and supported each other and had a lot of laughs. People’s roles within the company were totally irrelevant and there is nothing better for building camaraderie than putting everyone on a level playing field and letting them interact – particularly for a great cause.

As I was being driven down to Essex in my warm and cosy car and dictating replies to letters and emails from my in-tray, I felt a mixture of relief that I had a legitimate reason for not participating in this physical and presumably unpleasant activity, combined with a feeling that I’d missed out on all the fun. And I was right. They had had enormous fun and the aching limbs and sore back-sides evident as folk walked around the office like John Wayne the next day were testament to that. Everyone enjoyed it so much they’re now looking forward to the next staff bike ride and, yes, next time I want to do it too. Hopefully it will be in the Spring!