Winners of national cycling challenge crowned

We're celebrating after crossing the finish line of our national cycling challenge – Get Set, Cycle!

The challenge was launched in June to encourage positive fitness habits through accessible physical activity. Residents and colleagues across the organisation smashed their target of cycling the circumference of the Earth (24,901 miles) by clocking up a whopping 38,844 miles since the challenge started!

Across our 114 care homes, Wetherby Manor care home cycled the most miles totalling an impressive 7,871 miles. Meanwhile, Daniel Welch, Energy Advisor, was crowned individual winner of the competition with 2,787 miles cycled. The winners were awarded trophies and medals for their achievements, as well as praise from the whole organisation.

Judith Scurr, Manager of Wetherby Manor care home, said:

We’re absolutely thrilled to have won the Get Set, Cycle challenge! The initiative has been a great way for residents and colleagues to exercise their bodies and minds and helped our residents keep up good fitness habits while also having fun. The win is just the icing on the cake!

Encouraging physical and mental wellbeing is important to all of us across Anchor so it’s been brilliant to see people across the organisation get involved in the challenge by cycling.

The win for Wetherby Manor has been a true team effort with residents and colleagues across the care home contributing to the home’s miles by using special equipment provided by Anchor. Floor pedals and Memoride – a virtual cycling platform for older people which uses Google Maps to project images of towns or paths onto a screen – enabled residents and colleagues of all abilities to take part in the Get Set, Cycle challenge.

Esthma Leather, 102, resident of Wetherby Manor, said:

I’ve really enjoyed the Get Set, Cycle challenge and we’re all so excited to have won!

Daniel was also thrilled to have won the challenge. As an avid cycler, he used an indoor bike trainer and outdoor rides to clock up his miles. He’s taken part in numerous endurance races over the years such as the Transcontinental Cycle Race in 2019 during which he cycled from Bulgaria to France. Throughout the race, he often cycled for around 17 hours a day and covered a total of over 2,400 miles in 13 days. He has also cycled from London to Kenya!

Daniel said:

I want to congratulate everyone who took part in the Get Set, Cycle challenge. Cycling is a great way to keep active and healthy and has definitely helped me cope during the pandemic. Everyone who got on their bikes and participated in the challenge is a winner in my view!