Coolr Cycles the Length of the UK for Charity with ‘Miles That Matter’

Coolr has launched its first-ever charity challenge, ‘Miles That Matter’, bringing its whole team together to raise funds for two causes close to the agency’s heart: the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation and Mermaids.

The Farringdon-based social agency has set out to collectively cycle the entire length of the UK – from Land’s End to John O’Groats – all from inside their HQ. Over two weeks, the team will clock up a total of 960km (600 miles) using two stationary bikes set up in the office. To reach the finish line, they’ll need to complete 192 individual 5km rides, with the challenge already well underway.

“Not only are we raising money for charity, but people from different departments are cycling together — it’s basically the 'water-coolr' on wheels,” says Ben Jones of Coolr creative studio.

“You never know, we might discover the next Sir Bradley Wiggins is actually an account manager from Clapton," he adds.

The idea for Miles That Matter was born out of Coolr’s desire to mark a milestone year, having recently grown to 150 people, with something that would connect the whole agency while supporting meaningful causes.

“At Coolr, we work hard and play hard,” adds Ben. “We wanted to create something that brought everyone together while giving back to two charities really close to our hearts. September felt like the perfect time. Everyone’s back from their summer break, and there’s that ‘back-to-school’ energy in the air. Oh, and then the tube strike hit! But the extra e-bike journeys gave the team a bit of prep training.”

Participation has been high across departments thanks to a mix of friendly competition and collaboration. With two bikes in the office, team members can ride side by side, often with people they wouldn’t usually work with. Spot prizes are also up for grabs throughout the challenge, from most miles covered to best cycling outfit.

Coolr is aiming to raise £2,000 for its two chosen charities and had already reached £1,265 at the time of writing.

The Follicular Lymphoma Foundation is the first charity dedicated to finding a cure for follicular lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. Coolr has worked with the foundation for several years, inspired by a colleague whose family was affected by the disease.
The agency also continues to support Mermaids, which has been a lifeline for almost 30 years to trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children and young people, as well as their families.

“Two charities that mean a lot to our team are at the heart of Miles That Matter,” says Ben. “We hope the challenge not only raises money, but also awareness for the incredible work they do.”

You can be follow Coolr’s progress on their LinkedIn, where the team will be sharing updates as they pedal their way to John O’Groats.