Co-op’s Nick set to take on the 100-mile Birmingham Velo cycle ride to raise funds for Dementia UK

Posted by stephanie forrester | Published: 04/04/2019


A Central England Co-operative colleague is swapping his uniform for cycling gear as he gets set to take part in the Birmingham Velo on 12 May.

Nick Bates, manager at the Stretton Supermarket in Burton, signed up for the event to support the Society’s charity partner Dementia UK.

The 29-year-old has been training three times a week so he can be at peak fitness for the event. He is an avid mountain bike rider and used to road cycle on a regular basis until two years ago when he became a father. The Velo was a great opportunity to get back into road cycling and to raise funds for a cause close to his heart.

Nick said: “I am really looking forward to taking part on the day, and I am hoping to raise as much as I can for Dementia UK. Not only is it Central England Co-operative’s corporate charity, I lost my grandma last year who had suffered with dementia for the previous 10 years. During that time I saw her retreat into a shell of her former self. The impact of dementia is hard not only on the person suffering but also on those who support them. Dementia UK offers support to both families and those who are actually suffering with the illness, so I am really happy to be able to do something to help.”

The Admiral Nurse Service from Dementia UK provides specialist care and support for those living with dementia, and their loved ones.  These nurses are a lifeline for many across the UK and their families, either through one-to-one sessions, or through the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline. 

These nurses are funded through the charity which relies on the generosity of people like Nick, who raise money either by taking part in fundraising activities or donating.

Rates of dementia in the UK are increasing year on year, so the need for more Admiral Nurses is vital to keep up with the demand.

Central England Co-operative gets behind colleagues who are prepared to go the extra mile for charities and communities. The Society has been supporting Dementia UK for the past 18 months and during that time colleagues across the region have done everything from jumping out of planes and undertaking gruelling feats of endurance to holding cake sales and organising village fetes to raise vital funds for the good cause.

So far, the Society has donated over £1 million to the charity. The money has been used to help pay for specialist Admiral Nurses, additional vital training and the on-going staffing of the free Dementia Helpline (0800 888 6678).

Anyone who would like to support Nick can do so by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nick-bates14?utm_id=121

For further information on the work Dementia UK do, and for fundraising opportunities, please visit https://www.dementiauk.org/

 

Notes to editors

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. 

It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, travel shops, and property investment.

Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2019.

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

Rob Smyth and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 421390

Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop