Traka Veteran Rides to Cure CJD
Local “trade hero” Kev Barnes, who works for Traka in Olney, has completed an epic cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats, raising more than £2,000 for University College London Hospitals Charity UK and Cure CJD.
Kev, who lives in Rushden, has worked at Traka for over 15 years. He set himself the challenge of raising £1,100, a pound for every mile cycled in aid of Cure CJD, which supports clinical studies to investigate possible treatments for CJD and related prion diseases.
The original objective would see Kev cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats over 15 days. He was supported by close friends of Kev, Steve, Craig, and Lee Newell who all work for Traka, and in memory of Craig & Lee’s mum Ruth, who recently passed from the disease.
Kev expresses:
“This was an immense challenge, but one I was determined to complete in memory of Ruth. Although it was a personal goal, the important task for me was to raise as much money as possible, not only to support those impacted by the disease, but also to fund research into finding a cure.”
Steve Newell was one of the first team members to join Traka in 1999. Ruth joined the Traka family in 2000 and used to make the renowned iFobs by hand, an integral part of the key management solutions.
Lee Newell, Mechanical Design Engineer at Traka said:
“We have known Kev all our lives, both personally and through the Traka family. We are so grateful for him for completing this challenge and raising such significant funds. We know mum would have been immensely proud.”
Craig Newell, VP Strategic Business Development at Traka Americas added:
“As a hereditary disease with a 50/50 chance of passing on the gene, this is a cause very close to our hearts. Our family is humbled by Kev’s own huge heart and generosity”.
Kev concluded:
“I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way. It’s been an amazing experience to see this all unfold and definitely something I would do again. Thank you to everyone who has donated, the funds raised I know will make a significant difference not only to those impacted by the disease, but also into critical research to establish a cure for future generations.”