Companies throughout Suffolk have signed up for a corporate fundraising event that pits businesses against each other in a series of static cycling challenges to raise money for St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich.

The initiative called RideFest, kicked off earlier this week at Willis Towers Watson where staff competed in a number of races and CEO Mark Parker pitted his cycling skills against Woolly Pully, the hospice mascot.

Other businesses and groups including Ipswich Town Football Club’s youth team and apprentices Ipswich Building Society, Ipswich-based call centre Ansaback and Hudson Signs from Needham Market are taking part in the event, which will culminate in a finals night at Trinity Park on Thursday March 30 where an overall winner will be declared.

Corporate partnership manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, Ollie Langham, said: “Willis Towers Watson staff voted for St Elizabeth Hospice as their charity of the year and now staff are all geared up to raise money for us over the next 12 months. We’re really proud to be working with them and therefore it’s fitting that we kick off RideFest at their iconic offices in Ipswich.”

He added: “Events like this don’t just happen and I’d like to thank our RideFest sponsors Painting Pixels, REH Kennedy, Sackers and John Grose. All the money raised from the event will go to ensuring we are able to provide the best care for our patients and their families.”