PwC Ride the Nation event comes to Scotland

PwC is taking to the Scottish roads over the next week as part of the Ride the Nation event.

Ride the Nation is PwC UK’s charity cycle challenge, the inaugural event being held in May 2015.

The event aims to physically connect all 30 offices in the UK network by means of a cycling relay, including offices in the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland.

The event was conceived and continues to be organised and run solely by PwC staff to demonstrate the firm’s ethos of doing the right thing in our communities and what can be achieved when it works together as One Firm.

This year’s event started on 1st June and will last until 30th June starting and finishing in London but not before visiting all 30 PwC offices consisting of 26 different stages linking staff across the network from Aberdeen to Plymouth even the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland.

The event is a three layer challenge where mass participation on a local level will join riders relaying from office to office alongside a five strong national team - including Edinburgh tax manager Catriona Callaghan - who will cycle the entire 2000 mile route.

The Scottish legs will take over four stages, covering Glasgow to Edinburgh (route on Strava, route on YouTube), Edinburgh to Glenrothes (route on Strava, route on YouTube), Glenrothes to Aberdeen (route on Strava, route on YouTube) and finally departing from Edinburgh to head to Newcastle (route on Strava, route on YouTube).

Glasgow to Glenrothes will take place on Thursday 15th June, Glenrothes to Aberdeen on Friday 16th June and Edinburgh to Newcastle on Monday 19th June.

The Scottish teams, representing the three offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, have set up donation pages for their friends and colleagues to support them. Other staff are carrying out in-office fundraising efforts.

The event is sponsored by a number of high profile sponsors including Halfords, Marriott International & Grosvenor House – a J W Marriott hotel BMW, Hertz, Outstanding Branding and the Principle Hotel Company.

Lindsay Gardiner, PwC in Scotland regional chairman, said: “I am delighted that Ride the Nation is on the road again in 2017. This is an epic challenge in which all our people can raise money for charity and physically connect with colleagues across our UK network.

“Whether it’s getting in the saddle to cycle, fundraising or simply cheering colleagues on, it gives us all the opportunity to raise much needed funds and awareness for local charities and our PwC Foundation. Supporting our local community is incredibly important to PwC and I am always proud of the enthusiasm and commitment our people show to a number of local causes.”

Stephanie Hyde, PwC UK Executive Board Member and Global Entrepreneurial & Private Business Leader, said: “Ride the Nation has rapidly grown to be the largest fundraising event the UK firm has ever put on, raising over £150,000 for the charities supported by the 2015 event is outstanding and testament to the passion, determination and hard work of our people.

“As Head of Regions and the Ride the Nation Board sponsor, I am incredibly proud of what our teams across the depth and breadth of the PwC UK network achieved in 2015, it not only demonstrated the power of our firm but that we can make a real difference to the communities we work and live in. I am really looking forward to seeing that true ‘One Firm’ spirit again across all our 30 offices for Ride the Nation 2017!”

The team can be followed on Twitter via #PwCRtN.