Barclays staff raise Operation 4 Oli cash

The Barclays branch staff wanted to cycle 40 miles in support of colleagues who were out on the road for a fundraising ride from Nottingham to Sheffield.

But by the end of the day the Mansfield team had more than trebled their target, cycling 120 miles.

The initiative, Operation 4 Oli, is in aid of two-year-old Oliver Carr, who has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

His mum, Cheryl, who works at the bank on Market Place, said: “Oliver was born suddenly at 31 weeks, nine weeks prematurely. He was immediately whisked away from us to the neonatal intensive care unit.

“Oliver was diagnosed just before his first birthday.

“Cerebral palsy causes increased muscle tone in his legs and feet which makes them constantly stiff.

“This affects his balance and co-ordination, making simple things such as crawling and even sitting up harder for him. Oliver is not yet able to stand or walk independently.

“There isn’t a cure for cerebral palsy, but there is a life-changing surgery available called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), which is a special technique that involves cutting some of the damaged sensory nerve fibres which are causing muscle spasticity or stiffness.”

Customers helped cycling staff at the branch raise £150 towards the surgery and to help pay for pre and post-op treatment.

Camellia Rooney, a Barclays essential banker, who organised the Mansfield fundraising, said: “Our customers really got behind us and our fundraising efforts, some even cheered staff on as they cycled.

“Barclays will double our donation through a staff fundraising scheme.

“We pleased to have been able to play our part to support such a good cause.”

A Barlcays customer from Warsop said: “It’s wonderful to see the bank doing its bit to help make things better for this little boy.

“The staff are always so friendly and helpful and what there are doing is fabulous.”

To find out more about the Operation 4 Oli campaign or to donate visit http://just4children.org/children-helped-2016/operation-oli/