Rick Wates

Rick Wates is an inspiration to us all. In July 2010 he raised £450,000 for the William Wates Memorial Trust, a charity set up by his family in memory of his youngest brother who was tragically killed in Honduras. He did this by persuading 132 of his friends and family to ride stages of the Tour de France, following the same unbelievably gruelling route and schedule of the professionals. Rick not only rode the 3600 km route but also organised and hosted an event that everyone said was one of the best experiences of their lives. This was an amazing achievement and the money raised helped some of the most disadvantaged young people keep away from a life of crime and violence, and fulfil their potential. In addition Rick makes an enormous contribution to the lives of local children with Down's syndrome as Chairman and co-founder of the remarkable charity PSDS. As well as this he is as a Trustee of the Wates Foundation,which makes a huge difference to charities in need of financial support. What is extraordinary is that Rick does this all in his own time. Carrying the Olympic torch would be a dream come true particularly with the cycling coming to Surrey. It would be fantastic recognition of the selfless work he puts in to the charities he supports and the people he inspires.