Fostering team get ready for marathon cycling effort
Released: 23 August 2007
Staff from Wolverhampton City Council will be stepping up a gear when they take part in the city marathon.
Four members of staff from the Children and Young People Service will represent various aspects of fostering, alongside a colleague from a partner organisation, when they get on their bikes for the Carver Wolverhampton City Marathon 15k Cycle Ride on 2 September.
Fostering in Wolverhampton, the fostering section of the service, has entered a team in the relay event for the past two years. This year’s team, including members from previous years and new recruits, is hoping to raise the profile of Fostering in Wolverhampton by taking part in the different event, starting from West Park.
Ian Groom, Marketing Officer for Fostering and Adoption; John Williams and Ian Esty, Support Workers at Family Placement Support; Susan Pounde, Fostering Service Administrator and Karl Pinches from the National Youth Advocacy Service make up the group.
Ian Groom, who is joining the team for the third year in a row, said: “We are really pleased to be entering a team again this year and we are looking forward to what will be a completely new challenge for us.
“Riding 15k on a bike is something totally different for all of us. However we have been quite successful in the team relay event over the past two years and are hoping to finish in respectable times.
“We also want to show people how there are many different strands to the fostering team and that we all work hard to make things happen for young people.”
Ian added that they were taking different approaches to training for the event.
“We are all keen on fitness and even though we haven’t done this particular event before we all regularly participate in sports to keep in shape.
“We aren't training together yet - two members of the team have been out on a couple of leisurely rides to get used to the distance and the feel of a bike again. However one person has said that he’ll start training just a few days before because he’s naturally fit.”
The 15k Cycle Ride is an individual event but the group will be taking part together.
Also taking part individually in the cycle challenge is Wolverhampton City Council Landscape Manager David McGlynn who will be raising money for four cancer charities in memory of his mother and sister-in-law.
Anyone who wants to sponsor David can call 01902 551148 or contact him via e-mail.
For further information on fostering contact Fostering in Wolverhampton on 0800 0730 189 or visit the fostering website.
Issued by the press office.