23rd September 2025 Cycling 1,000 miles for The Talent Foundry
When Dave Wood, Framework Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, started fundraising for The Talent Foundry he was simply looking for an opportunity to socialise with industry colleagues while doing something to support a good cause.
Three years later, after cycling over 1,000 miles and with colleagues at Morgan Sindall raising over £79,000 for The Talent Foundry, he’s taking on his most ambitious challenge so far – cycling 250 miles, over 15,000 feet of elevation, from Prague to Munich.
Dave confessed the elevation part was something of an oversight. He hadn’t fully appreciated the scale of the challenge when signing up for his latest adventure. However, taking on such impressive feats has had huge mental and physical benefits, including losing 7 stone since he started training for the 2022 ride.
There is also a very personal reason for Dave’s unwavering support for The Talent Foundry. He understands why all young people need opportunities to discover their talents and to think big about their future. Growing up on a council estate in Merseyside, he left school feeling like the education system had failed him.
Supportive parents helped him to succeed but he is keenly aware that not all children from his background are quite so lucky.
He explains:
‘There is no such thing as a child failing, unfortunately society fails them, and for me The Talent Foundry’s mission is working hard to plug that gap for the children they are reaching.’
Since he started out on his cycling mission to help The Talent Foundry support even more young people, there have been many memorable moments. The one Dave remembers particularly clearly came at the end of the final hill climb, on his cycle from Vienna to Budapest.
After hours of climbing, feeling particularly exhausted, he took a break at a bus stop to eat some jelly babies and imagined himself jumping on the next bus to reach the top. He persevered however and eventually reached the summit, cheered on by the other riders. Dave recalled the overwhelming feeling of euphoria when he made it to the top – a feeling that was instantly quashed when the bus he’d been waiting for cut him off so it could turn into the car park, ruining his moment of glory!
In addition to fundraising, Dave has also volunteered to support The Talent Foundry workshops and been the driving force behind getting his colleagues at Morgan Sindall involved in the partnership.
‘It’s something I couldn’t recommend enough. I’ve had a few colleagues volunteer at the workshops, and they have all said its one of the most rewarding social value initiatives they’ve participated in.’
He believes that not only is it important for businesses to support charities such as The Talent Foundry, but it is possible to bring people along with you to hit ambitious fundraising goals.
‘I think when you feel passionately about something and you work for an organisation that takes its social responsibility seriously, whilst facing industry problems such as a skills shortage, it’s not that difficult to gain support and momentum behind a cause like this.’
So, after conquering Prague to Munich, the question remains, where will Dave cycle next?
Having seen the rather gloomy weather forecast, he suggests: ‘Perhaps somewhere warmer next time, Valencia to Barcelona?’