Chris Atkinson (far right) is part of an incredible team of corporate volunteers who, supported by their MK based employer Trek Bikes, regularly gift us their time, skills and expertise.
Volunteering as a team and utilising your work volunteering days is a great way to give back to your community, as Chris explains below.
“Over the past few years, myself and my colleagues at Trek Bikes have volunteered both their time and skills to support the great care the Hospice provides. We did this in a few different ways.
“Our support has ranged from Trek bike mechanics restoring donated bikes ready for sale in the Hospice shops, to volunteering days at the warehouse. We’ve helped sort donations and catalogue valuable antiques, and our marketing teams were involved in the visual merchandising of some of the retail shops, including Off the Record.
“As an organisation, we also sponsor the Willen Hospice Cycle Sportive each year, helping to create a great atmosphere, as well as a mechanical service at the start/finish. We also supply a team of tail-end riders who help steward riders around the three countryside routes, helping the Willen events team ensure everyone gets home safely and change the odd puncture here and there.”
Trek HQ Bike Repair Day
“Having seen the large pile of broken bikes at the Willen Hospice warehouse, my mission was to save them from metal recycling and get them up and running again. Teams from across the whole business got excited about our bike repair day initiative.
“With the help of two colleagues, Will Scott and Marc Snelson, we triaged the bikes donated to Willen Hospice. One lunchtime we sorted them out into what could be repaired, what could be salvaged for parts and what might be collectible items for sale online.
Thanks to Jim, our Trek UK Country Manager we were able to donate a mixed array of spare parts from Trek which we used to get the bikes back into a roadworthy state ready for sale.
The bikes were dropped off at our UK HQ office here in Milton Keynes, the day before the Bike repair day, so we had a full day to get as many bikes repaired as possible.
Some team members came in early to get cracking, some stayed late. We worked in sections to make the greatest impact in the time we had. Washing, repairs, polish and cleaning, then final suggested pricing. The following day, the bikes were collected from Trek HQ to be returned to the Willen Hospice warehouse to raise vital funds for our local hospice.
We saved 28 bikes from being turned into recycled metal by repairing them on a corporate volunteering day and children and adults around MK can get a serviced bike at a great price, in turn helping Willen Hospice – everyone wins! Bike repair day is something that I personally aim to make an annual event. “
Ask your organisation about volunteering days and put your expertise to good use. For an informal chat about getting your team involved email corporate@willen-Hospice.org.uk or find out more here.
