Cycling to support families affected by Covid-19 

Charity campaign

Newcastle-under-Lyme-based Alice Charity launched the Tour de Alice campaign in August 2020 to give families, individuals and work colleagues the opportunity to take on the challenge of riding up to 2,156 miles in their own time to coincide with the annual Tour de France cycling grand tour.

The initiative allowed participants to clock up the miles at their own pace between 29 August and 20 September 2020 whilst raising valuable funds to support local families in need.

Every day for 21 days, NetworkIN advocate Josie Humphreys climbed onto her exercise bike at home to cycle ten miles for two reasons: to shed a few pounds and improve her mental and physical wellbeing, and to help spread love and kindness to families in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

How NetworkIN supported the campaign

Fellow NetworkIN advocates supported Josie by donning Lycra for outdoor riding or indoor exercise biking to support the cause. By the end of September 2020, 19 per cent of the total money raised had been by NetworkIN advocates, proving the camaraderie of the referral marketing community in supporting the campaign.

Notable NetworkIN advocates included:

• Donna Hames’ husband, Tim Hames (4th on the leader board), who raised £908 cycling on his hand cycle
• Sarah White (9th on the fundraising leader board) raised £545 in less than two days through two cycling visits to Josie’s house
• Chris Young (6th on the fundraising leader board) raised £844 (£1,055 in total with some money donated to a local Rotary Club)
• Charlotte Foster and Helena Davies, who joined Josie at her home to cycle

Many more advocates, friends and colleagues donated funds during and after the race period from shares on social media and Just Giving promotions.

Campaign outcome – pedalling facts to date

• • £13,798 raised at the time of publishing this article
  • 17,097 miles cycled
  • 615 donations

“NetworkIN is life ChangeIN! I have only been networking for just over 20 months and in all that time it has been NetworkIn advocates who have helped me to grow as a sole trader, as an employee, and helped me personally in so many ways.

“I never imagined the brilliant success we would achieve with the Tour de Alice. I have lots of faith and passion but in these crazy new times the ask was always a difficult one. All of my advocates help when they can, if they can, and should they want to and that’s just the way it should be. Supporting my advocates back is an absolute joy and building on that is even better.” Josie Humphreys, Alice Charity.

The past six months have affected everyone but in very different ways. The pandemic has exposed and extended existing inequality, vulnerability and hardship. Low income families and those who rely on financial and social support that schools and local food benefactors provide have suffered immense additional strain.

During this period, Alice Charity continued to help local families impacted by the coronavirus fallout with food parcels, wellbeing phone calls and the provision of essential equipment, sundries and clothing.

Now that lockdown restrictions are easing, the Alice team is able to increase support options and get back out into the community.

Charity Overview

Alice Charity supports disadvantaged and vulnerable families across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Vital projects include the Little Kindness appeal, Pass It On scheme, People’s Pantry food parcels, Bump & Beyond support for new parents and Big Cup local play sessions for baby and toddler groups. Last year the team provided essential help and support to 1,349 families within the community. Learn more about Alice Charity.

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