PEDAL power is set to boost a baby hospice in need of support from businesses getting on their bikes in the region.

Firms across the North-East are being called on by Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice to encourage employees to dust the cobwebs off their spokes and handlebars to raise money for charity.

Businesses with two or 200 workers can take on the challenge for the Middlesbrough-based hospice that provides palliative, respite and end-of-life care to babies and little ones.

Teams can peddle from branch to branch, office to office, to customers and suppliers or can devise their own routes to enjoy the challenge and even finish the ride at Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice.

The Ready Teddy Go Tour De Branch Bike Challenge has been launched at The Cleveland Centre, in Middlesbrough, by hospice supporters Gary Philipson, of BBC Tees, and Billingham business, Doornbos Equipment UK Ltd.

Doornbos employees have already pledged a team who will cycle from its head office in Rotterdam, in southern Holland, to its UK site in Billingham.

Mark Guidery, of Zoë’s Place, said: “We want people to get together to ‘peddle for pounds’ for a worthy cause.

“We have the lovely Gary Philipson from BBC Tees giving his backing to our initiative and we have a dedicated a website, which you can visit to watch our promotional video and learn more about our campaign.

“Ultimately, it’s all about putting a bit of fun into fundraising and creating a bit of collective team spirit within local businesses to achieve something really worthwhile and, there’s the bonus that participants will get fitter along the way.”

Zoë’s Place opened its doors in 2004 to help families with children suffering from life limiting or life-threatening conditions access specialist facilities where their children could receive respite or palliative care.

Each year, it costs Zoë’s Place around £1.5m to provide free care for infants and their families.

Mr Guidery added: “The support you give will make a huge difference to our special babies and their families.

“We appreciate every penny you raise and every mile you travel.”

For more information or to sign up, visitreadyteddygo.online or call the hospice on 01642-457985.