A BOROUGH worker is getting on his bike to raise money to help feed those in need.
Chris Thomas will set off from St Stephen’s Church in the town centre tomorrow (Saturday) on a 100 mile trek around Worcestershire’s Trussell Trust run food banks.
Chris, who is a neighbourhood development co-ordinator for the Redditch Partnership, helped set-up Redditch’s Food Bank just over 12 months ago and is hoping to raise £3,000 to support the project.
His journey will take him from Redditch to Alcester, Pershore, Malvern, Worcester, Droitwich, Kidderminster, Catshill and then back to St Stephen’s Church. It is estimated it will take Chris about nine hours to complete.
Chris told the Standard he had completed the journey in individual sections before but never in one go.
“I’ve been involved with the food bank from the start and thought this would be a good way of raising money and awareness.” he said.
“Me and a friend cycled last year from Redditch to Paris which was just short of 400 miles over five days and I think one of those days we cycled 100 miles so I’ve done something similar before.
“I try and get out and cycle most weekends but I think this will be my last ride out before the winter comes.”
Helen Gallagher, manager of Redditch Food Bank, will be following Chris on his journey in a support vehicle and taking pictures at each stop to document the trip.
She said in the 12 months since being founded last September, Redditch Food Bank had helped feed 1,093 households or 1,919 people of which 542 were children. In total 18,169 kilogrammes of food has been given out to those in need.
“Demand hasn’t dropped off yet and anecdotally the stories we are hearing are people are continuing to face quite a lot of difficulty.” she said.
“We have had our harvest donations over the last three to four weeks from schools and churches so the shelves are full. The schools really have been magnificent, they have responded marvellously.”
To sponsor Chris email [email protected] for a form or visit www.redditch.foodbank.org.uk/ for more information.
