Each year, Smile Together employee-owners nominate and choose our corporate charity of the year. As an organisation, we then get behind various fundraising activities from bake sales and raffles to sponsored events and donations for unwanted equipment such as our laptops for children programme. Our current charity of the year is Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) who provide care and support to families living in the South West who have children with life-limiting conditions.
Smile Together Outreach Dental Therapist, Dee Dyer and her partner Jess are taking part in the ‘Ride for Precious Lives 2023’ charity bike ride, fundraising for CHSW. They will be cycling over 200 miles across 3 counties in 3 days! Dee says: ‘Our target is to raise £2,400 which could fund 120 hours of care at one of the South West’s children’s hospices. We are novice cyclists but wanted to challenge ourselves and raise money for such an important cause, so let the training commence….snacks and advice are most welcome!’
Dee and Jess’s training has begun in readiness. They have been taking part in the weekly Wadebridge Breeze Ride which is for cycling beginners and follows the Camel Trail every Monday evening at 6:30pm. They have also been involved in a coaching session run by the Wadebridge Coasters which involved ‘cycle limbo’! Dee said ‘This was fantastic fun and may even come in useful in the event of fallen trees when I’m cycling to work along the Camel Trail!’
Dee organised a cake and plant sale at our Bodmin practice in April which resulted in many contentedly full folk who thoroughly enjoyed the sweet feast, it was quite a selection! Many purchased plants in the plant sale too, resulting in funds raised towards their epic cycle fundraiser of £160!
Our colleagues have been invited to visit Little Harbour Children’s Hospice in St Austell to see where their fundraising money goes. Senior Executive Assistant, Kim, who visited last year, said: ‘It was so inspiring to see the amazing work that CHSW do for local children and families and, although for many the outcome is very sad, the environment there is just beautiful. We are therefore so pleased to support Dee and Jess in their amazing challenge and as a company do what we can to help them reach their target.’
Ride for Precious Lives takes place on Friday 7th July to Sunday 9th July 2023. It promises to be an amazing event and a brilliant achievement for all those involved after months of training. To support Dee and Jess you can donate via their just giving page here. We wish them the best of luck!
