Galliford Try North West riders raise more than £7,397 for Lighthouse Charity on canal ride

A dozen Galliford Try North West employees have raised more than £7,397 for the Lighthouse Charity by cycling the 127-mile Leeds and Liverpool Canal over two days this summer, the charity said on 9 October.

The riders set off from Liverpool and reached Leeds via Burnley. The charity said the opening leg to Burnley was ridden in wet conditions before the team finished in Leeds on the second day.

David Bickerstaffe, Senior Project Manager at Galliford Try North West, said: "The Liverpool to Leeds bike ride was a fantastic challenge that brought together colleagues from across the business for a cause that means a great deal to our industry."

He added: "Construction can be demanding, and the Lighthouse Charity provides vital support to workers and their families when they need it most."

The team

The charity named 11 of the riders: Aneep Desai, Dan Ainsworth, Des Langan, Dillon Roberts, James Wood, Lee Harrison, Mike Kenworthy, Paul Edmonds, Steve Shorrock, Graham Harper and David Bickerstaffe.

Gerry Rushton acted as driver, mechanic and logistics coordinator, and the charity said he dealt with several mechanical problems on the route so the team could carry on safely.

The team said it took on the ride to highlight wellbeing, encourage conversations about mental health and remind people in the industry that support is available.

The Canal & River Trust gives the canal's length as 127 miles and says the route crosses Pennine countryside on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales before reaching Leeds.

A five-year relationship

The ride is the latest in a series of fundraising efforts by the contractor for the charity. Galliford Try became a Company Supporter of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity in June 2021, and in August 2024 it renewed its sponsorship, saying it had been an active supporter since 2021.

In 2022 the company's West Midlands and South West team rode from its Solihull office to its Assembly project in Bristol for the charity. That ride had raised £5,400 when the charity reported it.

Galliford Try ride	Raised
Solihull to Bristol, 2022	£5,400
Liverpool to Leeds, 2026	£7,397

Galliford Try's wider wellbeing work runs under its Be Well programme, which the company said includes mental health training for employees and supply chain members, an Employee Assistance Programme and access to Mental Health First Aiders.

Where the money goes

The Lighthouse Charity has supported the construction community since 1956 and describes itself as providing 24/7 support to the industry in the UK and Ireland.

Its 2025 impact report, published in July 2026, said charitable and leveraged support rose to £6.3m. The charity supported 6,712 families during the year with needs including emergency food shops and housing support, and funded 8,714 counselling sessions, 51% more than the year before.

It also responded to 94 critical incidents in 2025, a 42% increase on 2024, and said every £1 of charitable spend generated £16.96 of social value.

Sponsorship for the Liverpool to Leeds ride was still being received after the event, and the charity said it expects the final total to rise above £7,397.