Rucksacks full of essential educational supplies have been presented to a group of Ugandan schoolchildren – the result of a four-day charity cycle ride by staff from accountants Old Mill in memory of colleague Nick Baker, who died two years ago.
Sixteen of Nick’s colleagues from across the firm – which has offices in Melksham, Wells, Yeovil and Exeter – took part in the 207-mile ride from St Malo in France back to the Yeovil office.
In 2014 Old Mill staff – including Nick – rode between its four offices and then the following year they stepped up a gear, cycling from Paris to Yeovil. Nick was also a marathon runner and had completed the John O’ Groats to Land’s End cycle challenge.
The Nick Baker Memorial Ride raised money for Yeovil-based School in a Bag – which sends rucksacks filled with stationery, learning resources and eating utensils to poor, orphan, disadvantaged and disaster affected children around the world – and Marie Curie, which provides care and support to people and their families with a terminal illness.
School in a Bag has been one of Old Mill’s nominated charities for many years and the proceeds of the Nick Baker Memorial Ride were used to buy bags which were recently distributed to pupils at Kyomya Primary School in Jinja District, close to Lake Victoria, by Sharon Webb from School in a Bag’s partner Soft Power Education.
Sharon said: “All of the pupils asked me to pass on their appreciation for the school bags – I wish I could explain just how excited they were when we showed up with them.”
Old Mill financial planner David Rice, who part in the cycle challenge, said: “School in a Bag sent us a video of the kids receiving the SchoolBags https://www.facebook.com/OldMillafp/videos/250897892142103/ and it was wonderful to see how the money raised is being put to good use.
“Nick was a dear friend, as well as a colleague, and it is heart-warming to see his legacy live on and the positive impact he has made on these young lives.”
School in a Bag founder and CEO Luke Simon added: “Old Mill have been fantastic supporters of the charity this year so it was great to be able to show them these photographs and videos so they could see for themselves just what a positive impact their fundraising has had, and how much receiving the SchoolBags means to the children.”
