Simon Taylor is training hard for his epic charity challenge to raise £20,000 for The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust following the tragic loss of a close friend’s son. But Simon needs colleagues to dig deep and help him reach the fundraising target before they start pedalling over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Please follow the link to make a donation.

Simon Taylor, Commercial Director, explained: “Our closest and dearest friends recently lost their 22-year-old son – a young man who was very close to my wife, daughters and I. Christopher graduated from Harper Adams last May 2022 and would have been a real asset to our industry. However, whilst pursuing his dream and working on a sheep station in New Zealand, he was involved in a road traffic accident and died in December 2022. The Kevin Bell repatriation trust (KBRT) stepped in right away and were of immense support to the family during this difficult time, providing daily updates to the family and ultimately repatriating Christopher’s body to Northern Ireland before Christmas.

“To honour Christopher and to support the charity, myself, family, friends and close friends of Christopher from University are going to cycle from Harper Adams in Shropshire to Ballynahinch over the August bank holiday – the ride is 250 miles and will completed in four days going via the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin.”

The charity aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families when repatriating a body/bodies of loved one/s who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back home.

Simon added: “Supporting a charity is always good, but to honour Christopher and thank the KBRT charity is for me, both moving and necessary. The KBRT team were like Angels who answered the call of our friends in their darkest moment. Please dig deep and help this valuable cause and a huge thank you to everyone who has already donated or will be making a donation. The challenge will not be easy, and I have been training hard but knowing we are supporting a good cause will help keep me motivated and reach the finish line.”

Do keep an eye out on the intranet for an update after the challenge and photos. To make a donation please visit the link.