On 8 November 2023, it was a great pleasure to hold the annual IPT Poppy Ride event in partnership with the Royal British Legion in Parliament.

Fresh from the State Opening of Parliament the day before, dozens of Parliamentarians put their endurance to the test by cycling as far as they could in five 5 minutes in support of this year’s Poppy Appeal. We were once again joined by serving Armed Forces Personnel who provided welcome support to the Parliamentarians during their rides.

In addition to the 65 Parliamentarians who cycled 5 minutes on the bikes, several more offered their support by encouraging their colleagues and engaging with representatives from the RBL to discuss their important work. The event brought out the competitive spirit in many Parliamentarians who kept close tabs on the leaderboard throughout the day, paving the way for some interesting rivalries next time around, friendly and serious in equal measure. The event also served as a reminder of the great benefits that physical activity can have on our physical and mental wellbeing.

Dr Ben Spencer MP successfully defended his title as the fastest male Parliamentarian, cycling an impressive 4.07km in 5 minutes. The fastest female Parliamentarian was Thangam Debbonaire MP who cycled an excellent 3.42km. Both Parliamentarians were presented with well-deserved legion cycling jerseys which we hope they wear with pride.

A total of £620 was raised for the Poppy Appeal. We’d like to thank everybody who took part in the event and gave generous donations for this important and iconic appeal. We’d also like to thank the Royal British Legion for their continued support for this event. The Royal British Legion was formed in the aftermath of the First World War to fight for the rights of those who had given so much and come back to so little. The IPT is proud to support the RBL’s Poppy Appeal campaign as we pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.