Thirty-six employees from UK Power Networks swapped their hard hats for cycling helmets to take part in the Palace-to-Palace challenge, a 50-mile ride from London to Surrey held to raise money for The King's Trust.
The team set off at 8am on a misty autumn morning and collectively raised £9,149 to help tackle youth unemployment across the UK.
The King's Trust supports young people by providing opportunities, training and confidence-building programmes intended to help them start careers and build brighter futures.
A personal connection
For Cesar Ruiz, one of the company's energy data scientists, the cause is a familiar one. The ride was the second fundraising event he has completed in support of the charity. While studying in 2021, he received a scholarship that helped fund his education and pursue his career goals.
Ruiz described taking part as an unforgettable experience, and said that beyond supporting a fantastic charity, it was a great opportunity to spend time with colleagues while giving something back to society. He noted that he had been fortunate enough to receive a scholarship while studying, and that it meant a lot to now help provide similar opportunities for other young people, adding that being given that kind of support can make a real difference.
The challenge comes as The King's Trust marks its 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades of helping young people develop the skills, confidence and opportunities to build their futures.