Cycling for the NHS

Holkham’s Sam Proctor pledges support for NHS super heroes with a six week, sixty-hour cycling challenge

On Sunday 19th April, Holkham employee Sam Proctor, a pro-triathlete, began a mammoth six week cycling challenge to raise money for the The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn Charitable Fund. The idea for the challenge was prompted by the ongoing achievements of the team at The Victoria Inn at Holkham, during the COVID-19 crisis - in delivering meals to NHS staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn, as well as meals, estate-grown potatoes and other produce for vulnerable people within the local community. The challenge will run for six consecutive Sundays, starting this weekend, with Sam cycling a minute for every meal delivered to the NHS that week. An average of 600 meals are being delivered weekly, which means a mighty 10-hours of cycling for Sam each Sunday.

Supporters will be able to join Sam for live video streaming via Holkham’s and his own social media channels, as well as having the opportunity to cycle with Sam via Zwift. Sam will be set a different route each week, including a leg-pounding virtual ascent of Mount Everest. The challenge will also include NHS worker phone ins, duo rides with surprise guests and a potential two-day, 10-hours per day, final weekend climax. The challenge itself will take place in The Orangery at The Victoria Inn, with inspiring views out over the Holkham National Nature reserve. All participants, other than Sam, will join him virtually.

As Sam explains, “I am excited to have this challenge to focus on. Yes, it will be tough, but not in comparison to the amazing work our NHS staff are carrying-out to help save lives during this pandemic. I can’t wait to get started.”

Joining Holkham and Sam in the challenge are a raft of local food suppliers and global sporting supporters and sponsors. Supporters include Ribble Bikes, ERDINGER Alkoholfrei, Hoka One One, Zwift and Torq Nutrition.

In addition, the local suppliers who have generously supported the Helping Hands for Hungry Heroes initiative to create and deliver meals to NHS staff are also hugely supportive of this sporting challenge, namely Arthur Howell, Barsby Produce, Fen Farm Dairy, H V Graves (Briston) Limited and Sole Trader.

Head of staff engagement at the QE Hospital, Amanda Jane Weir, shares her gratitude for the forthcoming challenge, “Everyone at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn really appreciates the messages and support we are getting from our community. It means so much when staff are working so hard to keep patients and each other safe and well. The meals being delivered to the hospital have really boosted morale and Sam’s challenge is fantastic. Thank you so much to everyone who supports him."

Overall, the main aim of this challenge, titled Holkham’s NHS Heroes Cycling Challenge: Powered by Proctor, is to raise as much money as possible for an incredibly worthy cause. Supporters wishing to donate during the six-week period will be able to do so via Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/poweredbyproctor