Two local charities will benefit from the fifth annual Tour des Branches cycle event when staff from RBS International, Isle of Man Bank and Nat West, together with guests, aim to complete a gruelling 100 miles journey.

Aim is to cycle round all the 13 branches and buildings in the Island occupied by RBS International, Isle of Man Bank and NatWest.  Date is Friday May 11th and this year a total of 50 people will be involved including Bank staff, clients and invited guests.  Among the riders is RBS International’s chief executive Adrian Gill, who is travelling from Jersey to take part, and Isle of Man Bank’s managing director Bill Shimmins.

This year’s chosen charities are Victim Support Isle of Man and the Children’s Centre with the event organisers hoping to match, or beat, last year’s figure of ?4,000 which was raised through individual sponsorship and the Bank’s Community Cashback awards.

Isle of Man Bank’s Campaign and Communications Manager, Matt Cory, said: ‘With so many people involved we decided to split up into three groups which will leave Royal Bank House in Douglas between 7.30 and 8.30 a.m.  The intention is that the groups will make their own separate ways around the Island but all finish together at the end of Douglas Promenade, near Royal Bank House, at around six o’clock.’

Mr. Cory explained that the organisers had decided to expand the original concept when local star Mark Cavendish started to do well in the Tour de France.  He added: ‘No-one could have foreseen how popular the Tour des Branches would become or, for that matter, the heights that Mark would go on to scale, culminating with him winning the green jersey last year.’

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