There is much common ground between the Armed Forces and the emergency – or blue light – services.
A sense of duty, of putting others before themselves and their own comfort, regularly facing risk, and the comradeship forged under times of often extreme stress are just some of them.
More pleasantly though, is a shared passion for keeping fit and fundraising – including on two wheels – for their chosen causes.
And so, a partnership between SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity and the nationwide Blue Light Cycling Club (BLCC) seems an ideal bit of co-operation.
BLCC, as its name suggests, is a cycling club for the police and fire services, the NHS, HM Coastguard, HM Prison Service, the RNLI, and UK Armed Forces. Members have access to hundreds of discounts with some of sports biggest brands, and can enjoy safe, friendly rides across the UK.
Neil Turner, the co-founder of BLCC, explained more about the partnership, saying:
“We’re partnering as with SSAFA because we want to support Armed Forces personnel, their wellbeing, health, and happiness, because we’re keenly aware of the unique challenges and issues faced by those in the military and emergency services and want to bring like-minded people together, to ride, and to have fun.
“And, as a respected and long-established charity, we feel that SSAFA not only has the same ethos as us, but also actively demonstrates these qualities through its activities.”
A new and growing – it has around 500 members – BLCC’s partnership brings financial, as well as health benefits to the military and other communities.
BLCC has committed to raising £25,000 for SSAFA through several fundraising initiatives, including what is described as a “three-day cycling extravaganza” in September taking staff from BT, North, and Empowered through the leafy lanes of Shropshire to raise funds for SSAFA.
More details to follow, including how SSAFA supporters can sign up to take part.
Jessica Sanders, SSAFA’s Corporate Partnerships Officer, added:
“We’re really pleased at the partnership recently founded with Blue Light Cycling Club, a partnership that’s going to bring mutual and shared benefits to military personnel and their peers in the civilian services.
“This kind of partnership, hard work, and generosity go so far to making sure that SSAFA can carry on its work for serving personnel and veterans, whether Regulars or Reserves, and their families just as it has done since 1885.”
To learn more about Blue Light Cycling Club, visit bluelightcc.co.uk and for more information about SSAFA, visit ssafa.org.uk.
