Four traders from T Rowe Price will join other staff at the asset manager aiming to raise thousands of pounds for charity by cycling the 300 miles from London to Paris.
Toby Baker, senior foreign exchange trader, will captain a team of 24 which includes Jeremy Ellis, the firm’s head of equity trading in London, Matt Howell, senior equity trader and Chris Carlson, a senior equity trader based in Baltimore, US.
The team will compete in the official London to Paris bike ride between 7-11 September which has raised almost £105 million over the past 24 years.
Speaking to The Trade, Baker said the recent terrorist events in France prompted the firm to look at the event to show solidarity with the people of France.
He said: “We had the events in France and it made us think of doing it. This year will also be the 100-year anniversary of the First World War. I have been here at the company for 15 years and there is always an appetite for sport.
“We have a corporate responsibility committee and part of its brief is to promote things of this nature to encourage people, by gift matching any of the funds they raise for charity.”
Baker explained that the cyclists taking part are a mixed ability team and many of them have had to give up time with loved ones in order to train for the event.
He added: “It’s not just what we have given up, it’s what our families have given up. The standard of riders is mixed including those who haven’t owned bikes before who can now ride in a peloton.”
In the weeks leading up to the event, the asset management group will also be holding additional events back in London to raise extra funds from colleagues looking to support the event.
External industry figures who would like to donate can do so by visiting the team’s Just Giving page.