Brownlee brothers cheer on care staff cycling 2,300 miles for BBC Children In Need

More than 150 members of staff from care homes across the UK took turns peddling from Scotland to Jersey in the brighterkind fundraising bike ride for BBC Children In Need.

The brighterkind Wishing Wheels charity cycle, which started in Inverness on 2 October, involved staff from the care home group cycling from the Scottish highlands across the UK, ending in Jersey on 16 November with a target to raise at least £17,500 for BBC Children in Need.

Sports celebrities including international triathlete stars Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee lined the route to encourage the cyclists during a stage of the route from Leeds to Heckmondwike.

The Brownlee brothers actively support young people through the Brownlee Foundation, which is committed to giving children all over the UK a positive sporting experience and encouraging them to get active in any sport.

Denise Arthur-Briskham, Christina Boghian, Mia Flores and Dan Carter from Meyrick Rise care home in Bournemouth were among those taking part in the cycling fundraiser on 14 November by cycling between The Wimbourne care home and Meyrick Rise care home - a distance of eight miles - to complete the 75th stage of a 2,300 cycling relay.

While BBC Children In Need has Pudsey Bear, the brighterkind mascot ‘Buddy Bear’ accompanied the cyclists across the country.

The brighterkind management team also took up the cycling challenge. This included chief executive Jeremy Richardson who took leave to ride three consecutive days and chief operating officer Lorraine McGarry-Wall. Relatives of care home residents took up the cycling challenge.

Target smashed with £21,380 raised so far

Although the fundraising target was £17,500, by the morning of 17 November, the target had been beaten with £21,380 raised for BBC Children In Need.

Michelle Wilson, regional operations director at brighterkind came up with the fundraising idea calling it ‘Wishing Wheels’ because she said: “We have a wishing well scheme in brighterkind homes, which aims to make it possible for residents to experience something they have long wanted to try or be taken somewhere they want to visit.

“The cycle challenge is to raise money to help make some children’s wishes come true; hence wishing wheels.”

The bike challenge was completed on 16 November in time for this year's BBC Children In Need,- a five-hour television show on 17 November, which starts at 7.30pm on BBC One.

The cycle ride may be over but there is still time to sponsor the charity fundraiser by visiting: www.justgiving.com/bkwishingwheels