Charity Ride For Children’s Respite Home

A Newport dad and a group of his work colleagues from Arriva Trains Wales are again cycling between north and south Wales to raise money for Oaklands House and the charity Ty Hafan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The annual event, called Tour De Arriva Trains Wales, is an annual challenge that is run by Arriva Trains Wales and is aimed at developing employee health and well-being while supporting the local community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ian Reiffer organises the Tour De Arriva Trains Wales challenge which takes place this weekend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Starting in Holyhead at 6am on Friday 23 September, the 20-strong group will do around 80 miles a day before arriving in Cardiff at about 3pm on Sunday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the 240-mile journey they will tackle more than 17,000ft of climbing and stop off at Oaklands House on Sunday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Funds raised from the ride will go to Ty Hafan, and Arriva Trains Wales will also make a donation for the same amount to the amenity fund at Oaklands House, a specialist service in Newport for disabled children. Arriva Trains Wales is also paying for the accommodation, mini bus support and food for the riders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Reiffer’s son Lewis uses the services provided by both Ty Hafan and Oaklands House. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Run by Newport City Council, Oaklands House provides short breaks for children with profound physical and learning disabilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Its amenity fund is used to buy toys, specialist equipment, music therapy sessions and trips for the children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Reiffer said: “The fund helps to enhance the stays of all children, so please support our efforts to raise money for both Oaklands and Ty Hafan.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Gail Giles, Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Young People, said: “I wish Ian and his colleagues all the best on their challenge – I hope the weather is kind to them and they have a safe and successful trip. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We know how vital Oaklands can be for carers, parents and families of children and young people with severe disabilities, by providing short breaks from the daily pressures they face while knowing their children are well cared for by dedicated staff. The amenity fund helps to enrich the children’s experience while they are visiting the home.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Donations to Mr Reiffer’s fundraising effort can be made on the just giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tourdearrivatrainswales?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20160905_88261 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​