Thirty-six employees from UK Power Networks took part in the Palace-to-Palace cycling challenge, riding 50 miles from London to Surrey to raise money for The King's Trust.
The team set off at 8am on a misty autumn morning, swapping their hard hats for cycling helmets, and collectively raised £9,149 to help tackle youth unemployment across the UK.
The King's Trust supports young people by providing opportunities, training and confidence-building programmes intended to help them start careers and build brighter futures.
A personal connection
The cause holds particular meaning for Cesar Ruiz, an energy data scientist at UK Power Networks who took part. The ride was the second fundraising event he has completed in support of The King's Trust. While studying in 2021, he received a scholarship that helped fund his education and pursue his career goals.
Ruiz said taking part was an unforgettable experience, describing the charity as fantastic and the ride as a great opportunity to spend time with colleagues while giving something back to society.
He added that he had been fortunate to receive a scholarship while studying, and that it means a lot to now help provide similar opportunities for other young people. He said he knows what it feels like to be in that position, and that being given such support can make a real difference.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust, celebrating five decades of helping young people develop skills, confidence and opportunities.