A team of colleagues are set to take on this year’s Ride the North in support of The Archie Foundation, helping raise funds for children and families across north Scotland.
The group of seven will join thousands of cyclists at the popular cycling event in August, choosing routes ranging between 110km and 150km.
The Archie Foundation, which is an official charity partner of Ride the North for 2026, provides support to children and their families in healthcare settings and during a bereavement.
The team of riders, who are all colleagues and share a love of cycling, selected Archie as their charity of choice due to one team member's personal connection to the charity.
The team member’s family has received continued support from Archie since the birth of his daughter. When she was a baby, the family had to spend time in Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, where Archie provided them with parent accommodation.
As she grew older and had to go through neurological monitoring, play staff visited her daily with activities tailored to her interests, particularly crafts, which gave her something to focus on.
James McKee, one of the cyclists taking on Ride the North as part of the team of colleagues, said: “Selecting a charity to raise money for by taking on this year’s Ride the North was an easy decision. Due to the impact Archie has had on a colleague within our own team, we are proud to take on this challenge and give something back. Supporting The Archie Foundation means helping ensure other families receive the same exceptional help.”
The team hopes their participation will help raise awareness of the charity's work while generating vital funds to support families facing similar challenges.
Neil Innes, founder and organiser of Ride the North, said: “The participation of corporate teams has been a strength of the event over the years. Ride the North has long been a diverse and inclusive cycling challenge, and those qualities are amplified when groups of colleagues take part together.
“Experience tells us that enthusiastic cyclists are very good at encouraging others to get involved, and because Ride the North is a non-competitive event, it is accessible to people who may be stepping outside their comfort zone for the first time.
“The 2026 event has different distances using the same core route, making it possible for a team with mixed abilities or experience to participate together.”
The Archie Foundation has been part of the event since 2013, with many riders taking part in support of the charity in the years since then.
Rebecca Duncan, regional business development and fundraising manager for Archie Tayside, said: “Stories like this demonstrate the real impact that donations make. Whether it's providing accommodation for parents, funding specialist play services or helping families through difficult circumstances, the support generated through events like Ride the North enables us to be there for families across Aberdeen, Tayside and the Highlands.”
Ride the North is taking place on Saturday, August 29 from Glamis Castle, Angus, in the foothills of the Cairngorms. Since its launch in 2011, the event has raised more than £2.5million for charities across the UK.
There is still time to sign up to take part in Ride the North. To cycle on behalf of Archie, visit https://archie.org/events/ride-the-north-2026/. To donate to the Shell team, visit www.justgiving.com/team/rtn-shell-aberdeen?utm_medium=TE&utm_source=CL