Data giant and partners hit the wall for hospital charities

Colleagues from leading data centre business QTS and their construction partners have taken on the Hadrian’s Wall Coast-to-Coast Charity Cycle Ride on 9 and 10 September, riding approximately 100 miles from Workington on the Cumbrian coast to Cambois, Northumberland.

The two-day challenge traced the line of Hadrian’s Wall through some of the North East’s most historic and scenic landscapes, before finishing at the QTS campus in Cambois. More than 40 riders took part from QTS, Fortivum, Arcadis, Cundall, John Paul Construction and Winthrop Technologies.

Proceeds will be shared between The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which supports cancer research and treatment in the North East, and The Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, both funds within Newcastle Hospitals Charity. QTS and its partners are contributing £80,000 in total to the two charities, with further funds raised through rider sponsorship.

The ride is the latest activity under QTS’s commitment to support the communities where the company lives and works. Bringing together health and wellbeing, teamwork, fundraising and community engagement, it also celebrates the connections built through the Cambois project.

The ride concluded as QTS progresses plans for one of the UK’s most significant data centre campuses at Cambois, following outline planning approval from Northumberland County Council. The development is expected to support 1,200 long-term construction jobs and 400 operational jobs, with QTS also investing in local skills, training and apprenticeships.

Simon Caron, Vice President of International Construction, QTS Data Centres said: “Rallying people from QTS, NCC, Fortivum and our partner network for a 100-mile cycle is all about making a real difference locally. We are deeply committed to Cambois, and we are immensely proud to support the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and The Great North Children’s Hospital – two brilliant charities doing vital work in this community.”

Shelley Brunsdon, corporate fundraising lead at Newcastle Hospital Charity said: “Support like this makes a huge difference to patients and their families. We’re hugely grateful to all the riders from these businesses for taking on such a demanding challenge on our behalf.”

Riders wore a custom jersey designed by local schoolchildren. Levi Todd of Newsham Primary School and Euan Bell of Bede Academy were named winners of the jersey design competition, which received 28 entries from schools across the area.

If your company would like to fundraise for the Sir Bobby Robson Institute or for the Great North Children’s Hospital, please contact [email protected].