The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) CEO Mike Green announced another cycle challenge aiming to raise £75,000 for the Veterans’ Foundation.
It is the second major cycle event the DIO will undertake for the charity. Last year Mike and a team of executives from DIO’s business partners and suppliers raised more than £55,000, smashing through the original target of £50,000, in a four-day cycle tour of Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
This year the team will tour Belgium sites that were the battlefields of the Great War and hope to raise even more funds for The Veterans’ Foundation.Mike made the announcement at an event held by the Foundation at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
The gala event was held to thank corporate partners for their generous fundraising initiatives and for beneficiaries to highlight where their Veterans’ Foundation grants have been used and how they have helped the armed forces community.
Among them were representatives from Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the youth bereavement charity that received £200,000 in 2024, and The Stoll Foundation, The Poppy Factory and Supporting Wounded Veterans.
The Military Wives Choirs received a standing ovation after entertaining the guests during the interval.
“It’s a pleasure to be here and to announce our next fundraising initiative for the Veterans’ Foundation, which does so much to support our armed forces community,” said Mike. “It is inspiring to hear how the grants have been used to help our veterans and I know I speak for all my cycling team-mates when I say what a privilege it is to help.”
The DIO is the estate expert for defence, supporting the armed forces to enable military capability by planning, building, maintaining, and servicing infrastructure to live, work, train and deploy.
Veterans’ Foundation Partnership and Fundraising Manager, Sarah Elliott, said:
“We were delighted to be able to welcome and thank our partners and hear from the charities in a venue that continues to support veterans. We are tremendously grateful for the support of the DIO and its partner organisations for their support.”