Payzone leaders hope to 'deliver' £15,000 boost for Nobel Prize-winning landmine charity 

Cycle4Change is an important initiative for Payzone and the Post Office. Payzone and Post Office employees will be cycling the length of the country with the aim of raising money and bringing their combined network together as one.

Andrew Goddard and Simon Lambert, Directors of Payzone, part of Post Office Group, set off on Thursday 10th September on a journey that will see them cycle 500km across the UK to raise money for three incredible charities; Sands, Trussell Trust and MAG.

Cycle4Change hopes to deliver £15,000 in support of the lifesaving work of the Nobel Prize-winning landmine charity Mines Advisory Group (MAG).

MAG is a global landmine clearance charity that finds and destroys landmines, cluster munitions and unexploded bombs in places affected by conflict.

Since 1989, MAG has helped over 19 million people in 68 countries rebuild their lives and livelihoods after war.

Andrew has already completed three convenience retail and wholesale fundraising rides for MAG across South East Asia (Vietnam-Cambodia in 2015, Sri Lanka in 2016, and Vietnam in 2019) with Simon also joining him on the latter. 

Unable to take part in the fifth MAG ride across Cambodia earlier this year, the pair created the #Cycle4Change challenge. 

Ahead of the ride, Andrew, Payzone's Managing Director, said: 

"The Coronavirus pandemic has shaken the world and some of the worst-affected communities are the same ones that are already forced to live in fear of landmines and unexploded bombs. MAG is working hard to continue their work in these challenging times and now more than ever we wanted to do all we can to support their lifesaving efforts."

Simon, Payzone's Commercial Director, added:

"I've seen first hand what £15,000 can do to support MAG's work clearing landmines and helping children and adults stay safe in areas suffering the deadly legacy of conflict. I know that every penny we raise will be used to help the people that need it most."

The #Cycle4Change challenge saw Andrew and Simon, flanked by fellow fundraisers Neil Turton, a former MAG trustee and Tom Fender, from The Wholesale Company, set off from MAG's central Manchester headquarters at 9am on Thursday morning. 

At the starting line was MAG's Head of Philanthropy, Sarah Tavener, who praised Andrew and Simon's dedication:

"MAG is incredibly lucky to have such committed fundraisers like Andrew and Simon. With this latest #Cycle4Change challenge, the pair are part of a team of cyclists that have raised more than £600,000 for MAG over the last five years. This life saving funding will help us to continue to find and destroy landmines and unexploded bombs before a child does."

Thursday's leg is the first of six rides and will see them cycle fifty miles around Greater Manchester and Lancashire, from Prestwich to Hyde, from Stockport to Sale, visiting Payzone stores and Post Offices en route.

Over six days, Andrew and Simon will take in Manchester and Lancashire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Glasgow and Falkirk, the North East of England, Greater London and Hampshire. In total, they will cover 500km and will be joined by a rolling cast of fundraisers along the way. 

Every day, 19 people are killed or injured by landmines and unexploded bombs across the world. Every penny raised for MAG by the #Cycle4Change will support a safer future for millions of women, girls, boys and men across the world.

To support Andrew and Simon please go to their Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andyandsimoncycle4change

Find out more about our two other charities; Sands and Trussell Trust and the fantastic work they do.