Lee Penfold is celebrating after successfully completing a 500-mile bike ride and helping to raise £15,000 for the homelessness charity Crisis UK.

Specsavers Richmond retail director, Lee cycled from Theydon Bois, Essex to Holyrood Park in Edinburgh for the annual Crisis seven-day challenge from 2^nd to 9^th September. Two other store partners joined Lee for the 500-mile ride; ophthalmic director David McGinty from Specsavers Aberdeen and Adrian McCann, optometrist director at Specsavers Leven.

Reaching the finish line at Holyrood Park on Sunday afternoon, Lee, David and Adrian were accompanied by a group of 15 cyclists supporting Crisis, including Crisis' CEO Matt Downie who had also taken part in the gruelling bike ride. They were cheered on by family, friends and colleagues as a piper played in the background to welcome them to the end of the race.

Collectively the store partners raised more than £15,000 for the homelessness charity. The funds will support the UK-wide charity to continue their invaluable work helping people experiencing homelessness and will go directly to help with running costs for Crisis' flagship Skylight centres in both Edinburgh and London.

The Skylight centres offer life-changing, tailored support to people facing or experiencing homelessness. In June this year, a new free eye care clinic opened in Edinburgh's Skylight Centre, run by Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP).

(Right) Specsavers Richmond retail director, Lee, cycled 500 miles for charity Crisis UK (credit: Specsavers).

Located on the Wellness Floor, the eye care clinic was funded by Specsavers thanks to a £50,000 donation and provides a bespoke clinic as well as additional rooms which enables Crisis to broaden the health services it provides.

Lee Penfold, retail director at Specsavers Richmond says: "It is such an incredible achievement to have cycled from London to Edinburgh and to have helped raise more than £15,000 for Crisis.

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"There were times when the terrain was pretty challenging, however the camaraderie from the other cyclists really helped with motivation and determination.

"I feel very fortunate that I have been able to take part in the Crisis charity bike ride, to have met some amazing people, and to have experienced so many beautiful places along the way."

To support Lee, you can make a donation via the JustGiving link or in-store, as there is a Crisis donation box at Specsavers Richmond upon Thames, 18 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP.

To donate to the cause, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/londontoedinburgh2024.