British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is set to raise £2500 for sport for development charity, Right to Play, by cycling 2000 miles to the heart of Africa. Staff at BUCS, the national organisation for higher education sport in the UK, will be sharing the miles from their head office in London to raise money for this year’s Right To Play Month.

 

 

Last year, BUCS, its universities and Right To Play raised over £200,000 by swimming, cycling, running and playing sport to give thousands of disadvantaged children around the world access to sport and play.

This year Right To Play plans to double its fundraising activities by encouraging universities to take part in Right To Play month throughout March.

To contribute to the total, on their return from the BUCS Championships in Sheffield (10 – 14 March) the BUCS team has 22 working days from 16 March – 16 April to cycle to Mali, which will equate to around four hours of cycling a day.

The ‘virtual’ route will take Team BUCS from London to Portsmouth, down through France and into Spain. The final leg will see them cycle through Algeria and into Mali to their final destination, Araounane.

 

Karen Rothery, Chief Executive of British Universities & Colleges Sport said: “Last year BUCS and its universities really got behind the idea to bring play back to thousands of disadvantaged children around the globe. This year we want to double our efforts with Right To Play and help thousands more. Although we will be cycling to Mali in the office, it will be no easy feat with all staff having to put in at least three, 30 minute sessions a week on the bikes.”

You can follow the team’s progress on Facebook and sponsor them at www.justgiving.com/bucs.

BUCS is encouraging others to join the Right To Play Month by running a mile, posting the time to facebook and then donating £2 in its Run for Right To Play Month competition. Everyone who runs and posts their result on will be entered into a prize draw to win one of over 80 prizes. 

Right To Play is the official charity of BUCS. For more information, please see http://www.bucs.org.uk/righttoplay.