Michelin has reaffirmed its commitment to international development organisation Transaid, the official charity of the transport and logistics industry, after renewing its corporate membership and pledging to fundraise a further £25,000 in cycle challenge sponsorship during 2020.
Michelin Pledge More Support to Transaid
The renewal extends a relationship which began when Transaid was founded as an independent charity by Save the Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) in 1998, backed by a handful of founding members which included Michelin.
Chris Smith, Managing Director of Michelin Tyre plc, says: “Transaid holds a special significance within Michelin because we have been closely involved since the very beginning.
“We are regularly humbled by their achievements and it gives us a great sense of pride to know we are directly supporting the huge impact they have on the ground in sub-Saharan Africa.”
In addition to pledging financial support through its membership, this September will see Smith lead a six-strong Michelin cycling team on a two-wheel adventure across Malawi to raise additional funds. The event will mark the charity’s 10th African cycle challenge since 2006, and the ninth in a row to feature a Michelin team, who will cycle alongside nearly 40 other fundraisers. The group will average 60 miles per day on a route graded as challenging, and which will take in the mighty Zomba Plateau – a mountain which soars to more than 2,080m.
Smith explains: “Transaid’s cycle challenges are hugely popular internally, and a great way for us to raise additional unrestricted funding to support the organisation’s life-saving projects. We’ve selected riders from across all areas of our business to take part this year and I’m very excited to be heading the team, having taken part in Cycle Tanzania five years ago.”
