From Tottenham to the Pyrenees

By Luchia Robinson

The peloton Credit: Andy Smith

Staff members from supported housing network and foster care agency, Phoenix Community Care (PCC), got on their bikes to raise money to meet a £10,000 funding shortfall.

The charity has found that several of their clients have had their social support cut, and they have had to foot the bill in many cases.

The funds raised from last month’s cycle challenge to the Pyrenees mountains, which border Spain and France, will enable PCC to better support vulnerable adolescents leaving care.

Al Coates MBE, Trustee of PCC said: “The young people and everyone working for the charity have been on many journeys – difficult and enjoyable. We want to honour these journeys.

“Since PCC began, we’ve always had to adapt to changes in funding in the UK but over the last few years it’s become untenable.

“We’re seeking support so that we can carry on helping young people, without their own families, through the difficult transition into independent living.”

PCC team members, Gareth Hawkes, Blair Mortimer, and Sam Kelly set off from the new Spurs ground, to meet up with south London charity, Renegade UK, who they teamed up with for the cycling mission.

Covering 120 kilometres per day, over nine days, the team climbed this year’s stage 14 of the Tour de France, from Tarbes to Col du Tormalet.

Gareth Hawkes, IT Manager at PCC said: “Recently there’s been quite a few cases where funding has been dropped– Local Authorities are doing their best, but there seems to be more and more reasons for funding being lost.

“We don’t understand why this is, but the funds raised will go to those affected.”