Ride4Life is an annual cycling charity challenge which has seen many Ardonagh colleagues from across the UK and beyond don cleats and Lycra to raise money for a host of worthy causes.
2026 marks a very special year for Ride4Life, with it being the tenth anniversary and the team are doing it in style with an incredible 24-hour challenge on the longest day of the year, 21 June, which will see the group ride from London to Amsterdam.
To date, the ride has raised over £90,000 for chosen charities, with ambitions for this year to take this over the £100,000 mark – with the team raising funds in aid of suicide prevention charity, Samaritans.
Help them get there by making a contribution to the Ride4Life Just Giving page.
In the meantime, discover more about the event, this year’s epic ride, and how to get involved.
The story behind the ride
Ride4Life’s story began 10 years ago in 2016, when it was founded by Andy Coles, Lutine Director and Employee Representative to Ardonagh’s independent charity, ACT, and his close friend, Damien – with the first event being from Doncaster to London.
The ride quickly became an annual tradition, with different routes being conceived each year and different colleagues from around the Group getting on the saddle – but always in aid of a good cause.
A new meaning
In 2020, the ride took on a new meaning, when whilst on a training ride, Andy and Damien were tragically killed.
This reinforced the spirit of the challenge to make a difference, and the team have continued to cycle with Andy and Damien’s passion for giving at its core.
Since the inaugural ride, the Ride4Life team have pedalled across the UK, France, Ireland and Portugal – and this year, the Netherlands – welcoming riders from across the Group along the way.
The longest ride yet, 2026’s event
With three ferry crossings, over 300 miles to cover, and four countries to travel through the tenth anniversary ride is set to be a challenge like no other yet.
The route likewise honours this milestone, with the team cycling from London to Amsterdam in just 24 hours on the longest day of the year, 21 June.
On Sunday 21 June the team will set off from The Lamb Tavern in London’s iconic Leadenhall Market (and where the very first Ride4Life event ended in 2016).
From there, it’s pedal power to Dover to catch the ferry to Calais, France.
Having crossed the Channel, the route continues into Belgium and then the Netherlands, with two more ferry crossings to make along the way.
Finally, having covered over 300 miles, the finishing line will be in sight, ending at Amsterdam’s Royal Palace to celebrate an epic achievement.
A cause close to heart and home
In 2026, Ride4Life are raising funds for suicide prevention charity, Samaritans, which provides lifesaving support including their volunteer listening service across the UK and Ireland to anyone in crisis.
This cause is rooted within Ride4Life, with the team having rallied behind Samaritans twice before in 2021 and 2022, raising combined £35,000, the equivalent of running the charity’s 24/7 online chat service for over a month.
Now the team are hoping to take this total even higher, with the aim of raising £20,000.
Want to support? Make a donation using the 2026 Ride4Life Just Giving page.
The 2026 team
Grabbing helmets this year are 12 riders, from across Ardonagh and friends of the Group.
- Gavin Pumford, Geo Underwriting
- Sarah Welsh, Everywhen
- Maxwell Burrows, Group Functions
- Paul Longhurst, Chairman, Ardonagh Specialty
- Ryan Coles, Price Forbes
- Rob Worrell, CEO, Everywhen
- Adrian Scott, Geo Underwriting
- Alexander Rathke, Capital IM
- Paul Emery, Atlanta Group
- Paul Exton, Friend of the ride
- Nick Lerway, Friend of the ride
- Gary Bennett, Lutine
More on the ride
Make a donation on the Ride4Life Just Giving page.
Visit the Ride4Life website theride4life.com