My Property Box

Ben Quaintrell, one of a 24-strong team of cyclists who raised more than £34,000 for North East charity Red Sky Foundation, has revealed how he was plagued by a string of mishaps during the 235km ride between Edinburgh and Sunderland.

The managing director of estate agency group My Property Box has so far raised £1,600 after completing the gruelling Coast & Castles Cycle Challenge on a borrowed bike.

However, he feared he may not reach Berwick-upon-Tweed at the end of day one of the three-day trek after suffering two punctures, taking a spill after failing to properly clip out of his pedals, getting lost three miles short of the border city, and standing on a thorn which went through his shoe and stuck into a toe nail.

On top of that, his chain fell off several times and he later discovered he dropped his wallet at one of the many rest stops – which was found by a woman who posted it back to his Darlington home.

Ben said: “I’m no cyclist and thought that playing five-a-side football twice a week would be preparation enough.

“I even had to borrow a bike from a friend, but the ride turned out a lot tougher than I thought. On top of that I suffered a series of mishaps that first day that doubled the pain!

“However, I love a challenge and it was an amazing experience raising money for an amazing charity and we had an amazing reception from hundreds of people as we reached the Sunderland finish line.”

Red Sky Foundation was set up by Sergio and Emma Petrucci to support the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital after their daughter underwent life-saving heart surgery in 2015.

Since then, the couple who have each recently been awarded an MBE in King Charles III’s first birthday honours list have raised more than £950,000 to support a range of cardiac-related causes across the North East - helping babies, children and adults living with complex heart conditions at the Freeman, Sunderland Royal Hospital and James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough. It has also funded more than 400 defibrillators throughout the region and the wider UK.

My Property Box has adopted it as its official charity and Ben with several members of his staff will be among nearly 300 people raising money for the charity in this September’s Great North Run.

To mark the company’s 10th anniversary last year, staff raised close to £10,000 for the charity following a sponsored hike up Scafell Pike and a James Bond-themed My Property Box Charity Ball at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield.

Sergio Petrucci said: “Ben certainly overcame some challenging moments during the cycle ride and he, along with everyone who took part, made an exceptional effort to raise money for a charity that is saving and improving the lives of those needing cardiac care.”

To donate to Ben’s fundraising effort, visit https://redskyfoundation.enthuse.com/pf/ben-quaintrell

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF MY PROPERTY BOX

Photo caption: Ben Quaintrell during the cycling fundraiser

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Douglas on 01325 363 436

Notes to editors

My Property Box covers the North East and North Yorkshire and offers a full end-to-end property service – lettings, sales, property management and investment advice. It prides itself on delivering an unparalleled service, whether you are an investor, landlord, vendor, or buyer.

It’s a tried and trusted client-focused business built upon innovation. This has allowed it to implement a range of streamlined systems and procedures that make our clients’ lives easier.

http://www.mypropertybox.co.uk