News & Media

27th April 2021

PORT OF TYNE CHIEF EXECUTIVE RAISES OVER £1400 FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY

The Chief Executive of Port of Tyne has raised over £1,400 for two Tyneside community services by virtually cycling to the summit of Mount Everest.

In December 2020, Port of Tyne Chief Executive, Matt Beeton, successfully completed an exhausting virtual summit of Mount Everest on a Wattbike to raise money for two charities local to the Port – Hebburn Helps and Meadow Well Connected. The challenge took over 12 hours climbing an elevation of almost 9km high.

The money raised by the challenge will go some way to supporting the essential work carried out by the local community organisations. Founded in 2015, Hebburn Helps is a community foodbank and crisis response centre that was set up to help local families by providing food parcels, clothing, and items for babies. Meadow Well Connected is a community hub that offers a range of supportive services to the local community including a community café and garden, a free-to-use IT suite, and an affordable after-school club, amongst other services.

Matt Beeton, Chief Executive of Port of Tyne, said “I am delighted to have had the opportunity to raise money for Hebburn Helps and Meadow Well Connected and their vital work in the local community. Both organisations are essential to the people that use them and are clearly making a real impact, I hope that the money raised will be a benefit to both organisations. Huge thank you to everyone who donated -- I am looking forward to helping out and supporting both organisations again in the future … but it’s the last time I’ll do the Everest challenge. Never again!”

 The Port of Tyne is committed to supporting and working with its local communities and helping them to thrive through sponsorships, grants, and the Port of Tyne Community Action Fund.