The organisers behind the inaugural Mortgage 400 charity cycle challenge have announced a final fundraising total of £26,002 following an epic four-day journey that brought together leaders from across the mortgage industry to raise money for two chosen charities.
The gruelling challenge saw the riders cycle 472 miles from Edinburgh to London in just four days, raising vital funds for Magic Moments and Crisis – charities dedicated to supporting children with life-limiting illnesses and tackling homelessness in the UK.
The team travelled from capital to capital with the help of guest riders and a support team led by fellow industry leaders – including former CEO of AMI, Robert Sinclair, former Computershare CCO, Paul Fryers and former UK Finance director, Charles Roe.
The epic challenge exceeded expectations in its first year, generating widespread support from across the mortgage industry. Organisers John Doughty from Just Mortgages and Andy Dean from Lloyds Banking Group said the response to the challenge had been overwhelming, with donations, sponsorship, promotion support and messages of encouragement pouring in from colleagues, peers and businesses across the industry.
Following the success of the inaugural event, organisers said they would consider whether and when Mortgage 400 may return, with any future plans to be confirmed at a later date.
John Doughty, chapter managing director at Just Mortgages, said: “When we set up the Mortgage 400, our mission was to bring likeminded people together from across the industry to challenge ourselves and importantly, raise money for worthy causes. It proved to be a real challenge, but such a brilliant and worthwhile experience alongside a fantastic group of people. I couldn’t be more proud to see more than £26,000 being split between these two tremendous charities – demonstrating once again the industry’s ability to come together in support of worthy causes.
“Magic Moments is a cause close to the hearts of all across Just Mortgages and Spicerhaart. I was proud to join Magic Moments’ most recent trip to Disneyland Paris, creating memories for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families – including one young child set to undergo their third open heart surgery. These trips obviously come at a cost – around £56,000 to take 13 families to Disney. Knowing we were able to help towards funding that trip and helping families create precious memories makes all the prep and all the miles worthwhile.”
Andy Dean, head of housing and sustainability at Lloyds Banking Group, adds: “All the support we’ve received has been completely overwhelming. From the riders taking part, industry colleagues joining our convoy, to all the donations, well-wishes and sponsorships, it felt like the industry really came together to back this challenge. Raising over £26,000 is such an incredible achievement and I’m so pleased that the money is going to two brilliant causes.
“Lloyds Banking Group is incredibly proud to support Crisis as our longstanding charity partner. Along with our customers, we have raised more than £5 million since 2023, supporting the important work they do to tackle homelessness and help those at risk of losing their home or those living in poor conditions. The energy and positivity around this event has been beyond anything we expected, and it's encouraged us to reflect on what the Mortgage 400 could look like in the future."
Alongside organisers John and Andy, the team of riders included:
- Adam Sheldon, corporate account manager at NatWest Intermediaries
- Andy Cooke, national account manager at Clydesdale Bank and Virgin Money
- Bryan Kidd, managing director at Smartr365
- Jason Hegarty, head of product and innovation at Mortgage Brain
- Mark Searle, director at Chartwell Funding
- Neil Wyatt, sales and marketing director at Mortgage Brain
- Oliver Smith, strategic partnerships manager at Vida Bank
Guest riders included:
- Graham McClelland, CEO at Gen H
- Peter Docker, CCO at Gen H
- Wendy Quantrill, mortgage marketing manager at Suffolk Building Society
- Jamie Hurst, publishing director at AE3 Media
