Cycle to Cannes is closely allied with a number of important charities who themselves have performed some heroic feats of endurance. Riders collect money for these charities throughout their long preparation for the ride from London to Cannes.

LandAid

Landaid is the charity of the UK property sector from which its support is drawn. As a Charitable Trust, LandAid makes grants to other charities to suport a variety of work usually connected with homelessness. Support is divided into two main categories: small grants made once a year to charities or projects requiring a kick-start for a service or facility that would not otherwise get off the ground, and a major project, usually lasting up to four years, in partnership with a leading homelessness charity.

Support from C2C in 2009 helped to launch the Foundations for Life Centre at Centrepoint Camberwell. This is one of five centres providing learning facilities, advice and support to homeless young people. In 2010, money from C2C will once again help to fund this £1 million pound programme.

Tom's Trust

Tom was killed as he walked home on 12 January 2006. Tom’s family and fiancée, supported by Tom’s firm Linklaters, decided that a lasting memorial would be a charitable trust to assist disadvantaged children to achieve their potential by gaining access to appropriate educational facilities and opportunities. Funds received from C2C in 2009 went to part fund a new teacher at Kids Company. They provide practical, emotional and educational support to 13,500 vulnerable inner-city children and young people in London. Funds raised from the 2010 ride will be used to support further projects with disadvantaged children and young people.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The DofE is a charity that inspires, guides and supports young people in their self development. They help young people from every possible background to gain the attitudes and skills needed to succeed in life. Many of these young people face a lack of opportunity for education and training and taking part in the DofE can not only divert them from antisocial behaviour, but help them to develop skills that are useful for gaining employment. Much of their work is in training the leaders and volunteers who guide and inspire the 275,000 taking part in the programme.

In 2009 DofE trialled a new system funded by C2C to enable the young participants to record their activities online to receive more effective support from Leaders. Such was the success, the system will now be available to all participants from late 2009. In 2010, funds provided by C2C will go to recruit and train new leaders and establish DofE in schools and youth groups in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK.

The Sarah Matheson Trust

The Sarah Matheson Trust for Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) provides information and support to those living with MSA, their families, carers and health care professionals. This support is provided through a telephone and email helpline run by Specialist Nurses, regional support groups and seminars for health care professionals. The Trust also funds research into the possible causes of MSA and its treatment.

MSA is a progressive neurological disorder resulting from the degeneration of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain. This cell degeneration causes problems with movement, balance, speech and automatic functions of the body such as bladder control. MSA affects adults usually between the ages of 50-60 years. MSA is not infectious or contagious. It is a sporadic disorder that occurs at random and is ultimately fatal. Recent research suggests that MSA affects 5 people per 100,000 in the UK.

The Trust was set up in 1997 by Sarah who died from MSA in 1999. Between 1972 and 1997 Sarah held various posts at the Architectural Association (AA). Peter Murray, Founder of Cycle to Cannes and whose eldest brother died from MSA, knew Sarah through the AA.

The funding received from C2C in 2009 has been used to fund the Trust’s telephone and email helpline run by their Specialist Nurse. Additional funds raised in 2010 will go towards providing a second nurse to assist with the helpline due to the ever increasing demand.

Article 25

620 million children do not have decent or safe housing to live in. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the only article referring to the built environment. It says that adequate housing and shelter are a fundamental human right. The charity Article 25 works to build better wherever there is disaster, poverty or need.

The money received from C2C makes a significant difference to the work of Article 25. Over the last three years, funding from C2C has helped to provide; over 80 earthquake proof homes in northern Pakistan; a children’s home in Ghana; a school for street children in Goa; and rescued a children’s counselling unit in Lesotho from poor design and construction. Funds received in 2010 will help them to complete the following current projects; sports facility for schools in Ethiopia; prototype child-friendly schools and the masterplan and construction design for Gola Forest National Park, both in Sierra Leone.

Other charitable donations made in 2009 supported Wheelpower, The Cure Parkinson’s Trust and St Andrew’s Hospice.