Furniture Makers raise £58,000 from charity bike ride to Bordeaux

Twenty two members and supporters of The Furniture Makers’ Company have raised a staggering £58,000 for the industry’s charity after completing an arduous 450-plus mile cycle ride from London to Bordeaux.

Organised by Ben Burbidge, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, the cyclists set off from Guildhall, London on Sunday 11 September.

They spent the next six days pedalling an average of 80 miles a day, passing through Nantes, La Rochelle and Royan, to reach their end destination on Friday 16 September.

The group were given a heroes welcome by friends, family, fellow Furniture Makers and Anne-Marie Cazalet, a representative of the Mayor of Bordeaux, at Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux.

The team aimed to raise £50,000 for The Furniture Makers’ Company, but thanks to the support of friends, family and the furnishing industry, the team smashed their target on the last day of the ride.

Master Ben Burbidge said: “I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored us, including the companies that funded our team cycling jersey. We have been flooded with congratulatory messages and well wishes. It was an amazing trip which, despite a few sore legs, we were all thrilled to be a part of. I’m incredibly impressed by the courage and determination of everyone who participated.

“The money raised will  go a long way to helping The Furniture Makers’ Company achieve its aims of educating young talent for the future, driving excellence and helping people who have fallen on tough times.”

The companies that sponsored the team cycling jersey are Axminster Tools & Machinery, B&Q, Blum, the British Furniture Manufacturers Association, Burbidge Kitchens, CD UK, Cabinet Maker, Celtheath Contract Furniture, Designer Contracts, Ercol, Furniture Village, KI, Knoll, Lectra, Rotadex, Silentnight and Tangent Furniture.

For more information on how to sponsor the team, please visit www.justgiving.com/teams/TFMCLtoB