The Executive Chairman of oils, lubricants and grease manufacturer and provider Morris Lubricants, one of Shrewsbury’s largest and well-established companies is taking on an exciting charity challenge.
Andrew Goddard, a fifth-generation descendant of Morris Lubricants founder James Kent Morris, will ride one leg of a 200-kilometre sponsored cycle ride on 11th August on a bicycle used to make deliveries in Shrewsbury in the company’s early years.
A photograph of Andrew, as a teenager, riding the delivery bicycle and his brother Edward Goddard, Executive Chairman of sister company Morris Leisure, with a vintage delivery van was displayed in the reception area at the companies’ head office for many years.
This summer, Andrew has agreed to get reacquainted with the bicycle and use pedal power to complete a leg of the sponsored cycle ride, which will start at Morris Lubricants’ manufacturing and blending facility in the heart of Shrewsbury. Before heading to all the Morris Leisure caravan holiday home and touring parks in Shropshire and Hope House children’s hospice in Morda.
Andrew is no stranger to charity challenges, having walked up Mount Snowdon blindfolded to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind in 2019.
Riders will begin their journey at Morris Lubricants manufacturing and blending facility then cycle to Stanmore Hall Touring Park, Bridgnorth, before heading to Ludlow Touring and Holiday Park, then move on to Bow House Country Park, near Bishops Castle. Following this, they will cycle to Hope House’s headquarters at Morda, near Oswestry, before cycling to Oxon Hall Touring Park, where Andrew will join them for the 3-mile leg back to Morris Lubricants in the centre of Shrewsbury.
The sponsored ride is one of a series of fundraising events planned by Morris Lubricants and Morris Leisure to support Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices.
Already signed up for the ride are Andrew’s work colleagues Owen Lloyd, Dan Stanley, Billy Salter and Kim Marmaras.
“I have walked up Mount Snowdon blindfolded and have taken part in a number of other challenges to support our companies’ adopted charities over the years,” said Andrew.
“Now I have been talked into doing a leg of the sponsored cycle ride on the old Morris delivery bike which will be a major challenge in itself. However, it’s all for a very worthy cause and everyone working for both companies are looking forward to supporting the fantastic work of Hope House and Ty Gobaith.”
Other fundraising events that have already taken place are an ‘open the box’ challenge and eat cake day in June and a charity 11-a-side football match against fellow Shrewsbury company Greenhous in July. After the cycling challenge, the company are organising a darts competition in September, a pub quiz in October, a Morris Bake Off competition in November and a Christmas Jumper Day and grand raffle in December.
A JustGiving page has been set up for anyone who would like to support the cycling challenge fundraising: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Morris-Lubricants-Cycling-Challenge/. They hope to raise as much money as possible for this worthy cause continuing to offer the amazing support and care they provide to those families in need.