College tutor gets on his bike for charity
by Educate Magazine June 19, 2017 · Sixth Form & College News
Hugh Baird College wet trades curriculum co-ordinator Martyn Pearson hadn’t rode a bike since he was a youngster, but once the college adopted the bike to work scheme, he decided it was time to change this and help a worthy cause at the same time.
Martyn, who travels to the College from Flint in North Wales, used to travel across the Mersey by car, but took the introduction of the scheme as the opportunity to make a change.
Martyn said: “Driving to work was stressful and costly and I decided that I should try and improve my health by getting on my bike.”
“The problem was, I didn’t have one!”
“When the human resources department at the College announced that Hugh Baird College would be signing up to the scheme, I decided that it was time for me to get a bike and give cycling a go”
Since then, Martyn has started to travel to work on the bike and is also using his new found love for cycling to benefit others by supporting a cause that is close him.
From the 13 to 15 July, Martyn will be taking on a quite epic challenge for a new cyclist. In aid of charity Bloodwise, he will be attempting to ride more than 230 miles from Edinburgh Castle to Flint Castle.
Martyn said: “I have chosen to ride for Bloodwise as a close friend of mine was told eight years ago that he has chronic myeloid leukaemia, to date his health conditions is all well and good and hasn’t suffered any setbacks. Bloodwise supported him and his family during what was an extremely difficult time, so we felt it only right to give something back.”
Head of human resources at Hugh Baird College, Carol Nield, said: “The bike to work scheme is just one of a number of health and well-being initiatives the college has introduced over the last four to five years. A healthy workforce is a happy and productive workforce and the college are strong advocates of the healthy body healthy mind ethos.”
“I’m delighted that the bike to work scheme has worked for Martyn and it is fantastic to see him using his new mode of travel to benefit such a worthy cause.”
“We all wish him the best of luck.”
If you would like to sponsor Martyn on his charity challenge, you can do so by visiting his JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/Mart-Pearson2
