Bathroom retailer Ripples has raised over £20,000 for sanitation charity, The Cycle, by completing a 4-day bike ride from Bath to Edinburgh. The challenge, which took place between the 19th and 23rd April 2023, saw a group of Ripples employees, suppliers and friends cycle an average of 100 miles every day to raise awareness and essential funds for the charity.
The Cycle is responsible for transforming the lives of over 350,000 people cross India and Africa by building revolutionary Ecosan toilets, which offer a safe, hygienic and sustainable option for those living in less fortunate communities. Every year over 800,000 children under five die from some form of diarrhea-based disease and in India alone, as many as one in five girls leave school when they start their periods due to lack of toilets and the stigma attached to menstruation. With a focus on women, world and water, not only does The Cycle supply EcoSan toilet solutions, but the charity also provides period education, helping to establish menstrual, sexual and reproductive health literacy in schools and communities where taboos still suppress women and girls.
Ripples MD Paul Crow said: “We’ve been proud supporters of The Cycle for the past decade, raising over £50,000 to aid the crucial work the charity does across India and Africa. With the common thread of sanitation tying us together, we’re constantly looking for new ways to raise both awareness and vital funds to help The Cycle improve the lives of those less fortunate than us and the Bath 2 Edinburgh challenge was the perfect event to do this. The bike ride saw us cover 420 miles, scale over 5,600ft and spend over 30 hours on our bikes – a huge challenge both physically and mentally. We're delighted to have raised such a substantial amount of money to support The Cycle's work; I personally visited several of the charity’s projects during a trip to India in February of this year and saw first-hand the difference that donations can make.”
To donate to this cause, visit totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/bath-to-edinburgh-2023.
