Acorn to sponsor Dalmatian Bike Ride

Leading multi-specialist recruitment and training agency, Acorn, is sponsoring this year’s Dalmatian Bike Ride, in aid of St David’s Hospice Care.

The annual Dalmatian Bike Ride, which now attracts hundreds of riders, raised £2,500 in its first year and has now broken through £100,000 raised for the Hospice.

Acorn Managing Director, Matt Southall, said: “we all have personal experience of St David’s Hospice Care and the truly marvellous work they do for our local community.”

Matt, who has also pledged to take part in the Dalmatian Bike Ride this year added: “I have been aware of the Dalmatian Bike Ride for some time and was keen for Acorn to play a part and help raise awareness of the event.

“I will be joined by a number of Acorn staff in the ride and we’re all looking forward to getting involved in aid of a truly worthy cause.”

Event organiser and keen cyclist, Dave Rees, from St Julian’s, Newport, said: “I can hardly believe how far we have managed to come and how much we have managed to raise over the past four years – it’s phenomenal.

“And the icing on the cake is being able to announce that Acorn has agreed to sponsor the Dalmatian Bike Ride. To think we just set ourself the target of raising £2,500 in that first year and have now raised £101,000.”

Dave and his colleagues started the bike ride following the death of his father-in-law, John Dixon, who had been cared for in St Anne’s Hospice, Newport.

“We were astounded to know that the marvellous care that John received was completely free. We found out how much it would have cost to care for a patient such as John and set out to repay that cost, £2,500, which is how the Dalmatian ride came about. In the event we actually raised £10,000 in the first year.”

Referencing the inspiration behind ‘Dalmatian’, Dave, added: “well, after the first year, we wanted to make the ride an annual event, make it bigger with 100 riders taking part and tried to think of a catchy name. One of the people taking part suggested we should have 101 riders so naturally it became known from there on as the Dalmatian Bike Ride.”

Tania Ansell, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “we’re very grateful to the Dalmatian Bike Ride for supporting us so brilliantly and staging such a fantastic event that is enjoyed enormously every year by all that take part.

“We are also very grateful to The Priory, at Caerleon, who have been extremely supportive of the Dalmatian Bike Ride by throwing open their garden and facilities for riders and supporters to relax in and enjoy after their strenuous efforts on the day.”