Construction workers from the Haywards Heath development in Sussex have cycled 126km to raise £2000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Their route took them through the picturesque but punishing South Downs.

The team, from BAM Construction, cycled from Oriel High School in Crawley (which BAM built) up and down the South Downs via their scheme for Waitrose in Haywards Heath using part of the London to Brighton route. They finished on a new business park development in Portsmouth having raised nearly £2000 for charity after cycling 126km.

The team included planners, architects, engineers, surveyors and managers.

Alan Newland, who led the cycle and is project manager for BAM’s £25m Hayward Heath scheme for Waitrose, said:

“The ride went well. We were all please to reach the top of Ditchling Beacon, the highest peak in Sussex because our heartbeat per minute was about to max out.

“BAM is very proud of the work we do but we also place huge value on our community involvement. Alzheimer’s is a great charity and an illness that can affect anybody and it doesn’t respect how fit or tough you are. We’re proud to support them as part of a company-wide initiative to raise £100,000 for them overall.”

“we created a safe cycle route through this potentially hazardous new development to get them home safely, and gave them a warm round of applause, not to mention showers and fresh towels.”

Simon Gray

BAM’s construction manager for first phase of the Portsmouth business park

The cycling challenge has been repeated in other parts of the country over the past few days and funds raised for the Alzheimer’s Society have already exceeded £10,000 from BAM’s combined cycle challenges.