Women bank on support of ‘Friends’

Area manager Karen Brown and Larne branch manager Lorna Foster are among 20 intrepid Ulster Bank staff from across Northern Ireland taking part in the upcoming Cycle of Central event, which will see them pedaling their way around branches at Carrickfergus, Larne, Antrim and Glengormley – a total of 63 miles.

The team members are hoping that their local communities will be prepared to help them on their fund-raising way, generating as much cash as possible to donate to Friends of The Cancer Centre, the designated charity of the 13 branches for 2012.

Karen Brown, area manager for Ulster Bank, is looking forward to the cycling challenge.

She said: “Cycling around some of our branches to demonstrate our support for ‘Friends’ seemed like a good idea at the time and fellow managers and staff were quick to sign up for the venture.

“Then came the reality check as we all realised how much effort is needed to complete 63 miles on a bike!”

Larne branch manager, Lorna Foster is also taking part.

She said; “Our team is a mix of already enthusiastic cyclists, plus a few who are prepared to get their bikes out of retirement in the interests of a good cause – and ‘Friends’ is a great good cause.

“As our designated charity, it is genuinely close to our hearts and we are looking forward to doing something practical to show our support.

“With every turn of the wheel we know that we will be doing our bit to help cancer patients and their families.

“That’s incentive enough to ensure that we all go the extra mile.”

Welcoming the cycling initiative, Colleen Shaw, director of Friends of the Cancer Centre, said: “We’re delighted to have the support of Ulster Bank’s cyclists and hope that their local communities will give them the ‘push’ they deserve with this great fund-raising challenge.

Friends of the Cancer Centre is the leading local cancer charity based at the heart of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, Northern Ireland’s regional centre for excellence.