Behind the Retrospective – A closer look : inspiring journeys
ACT: A Retrospective is ACT's first ever exhibition – showcasing the stories, people and impact behind the Trust over the past eight years.
No matter where you are around the world, you can explore exhibition using the virtual tour – with a travelling version also in the making to set off around key sites and events over 2026.
Throughout ACT’s history, the actions of colleagues across the Group have led to over 1,000 causes being supported. In this section we reflect on some of the amazing ways our people have rallied behind charities special to them.
Inspiring journeys: never standing still, always giving back
Up mountains, along rivers, across countries. On foot and by two wheels or four. In peak performance and in times of challenge.
Journeys in spirit or in distance, throughout our history ACT has proudly backed individuals and teams who never stand still and always seek to give back.
So, next, we explore the expeditions conquered in support of our mission and the projects these miles have turned into reality.
Pedal power: Ride4Life
From humble beginnings when it was started in 2016, the annual Ride4Life challenge has gone on to raise close to £100,000.
Founded by former ACT Employee Representative Andy Coles and his friend Damian Natale, the ride has become a way not just to give back, but to honour the lives of these two men who were tragically taken before their time during a training ride in 2020.
Since the inaugural ride from Doncaster to London, over the past nine years the Ride4Life team have pedalled across the UK, France, Ireland and Portugal – with the ambition of new horizons with each and every ride.
Displayed across a full wall we had jerseys from all eight rides so far, which alongside stood Ride4Life team member Gavin Pumford’s road bike. Gavin has been part of the Ride4Life story since the very start and is integral to planning each year’s route – no matter its location, length, or elevation!
After touring in Europe the past two years, 2025 will see the team take a much needed break before plans for the longest ride yet to coincide with the longest day of the year in 2026. Once again overseas, the 2026 event will be their most challenging yet, and fitting to celebrate the ride's tenth anniversary.
Cancer Fund for Children: the pathway to Daisy Lodge
The Irish charity Cancer Fund for Children has been a long-term spotlight cause for ACT, Ardonagh and the Group’s homegrown broker Arachas.
Cancer Fund for Children’s aim is that that no child should face cancer alone. For 10 years, the charity has provided short breaks to families at Daisy Lodge in County Down – a world-class therapeutics centre offering space and time to simply be a family. At any time, over 50 families are on a waiting list to benefit from the centre’s specialist support.
Three years ago, plans began to build a second Daisy Lodge in County Mayo, and ACT has proudly been with them for every step of the journey.
In the exhibition, we crafted a pathway of our own – depicting the journey Cancer Fund for Children together with Ardonagh, ACT and Arachas have been on to realise their aspirations of building Daisy Lodge 2.0. On each step of the path lay facts and quotes from families who have been supported by Cancer Fund for Children’s services.
Along the path were a host of artefacts connected to our ongoing support – including trainers from Rory Best’s Miles2Mayo challenges, one of the bricks auctioned for Daisy Lodge at ACT’s 2022 gala dinner, architect drawings of the new respite centre, and even paper flowers representing daisies.
Breaking ground : build ahead
In July 2025, works officially began on site to kickstart the build of the new 30,000 square ft overlooking Lough Corrib in Cong, Co. Mayo.
The charity’s existing centre in County Down currently supports up to 1,800 family members each year. The addition of a second Daisy Lodge will double this capacity, enabling up to 4,000 family members annually to benefit from this vital service.
Over the coming months, we look forward to seeing Daisy Lodge 2.0 grow from the ground up as work continues – including the creation of The Ardonagh Wing, named to mark the incredible efforts of colleagues from across Arachas and the Group to make the centre a reality.
Going green: and giving back
Our annual global fundraising day, Give Back, is an incredible opportunity for our colleagues, no matter their business or country, to unite in the spirit of doing good.
Each year sees a fresh take on the event, but the intention remains the same – to give back by whatever means... and to don a lot of Ardonagh green in the process!
In the exhibition, our Give Back wall charts the past eight years of our Group-wide charity event, which has raised £918,000+ for over 350 causes to-date. Ranging from our first ever charity single in 2018 created by Olly Babbage in Cheltenham to boxing gloves worn by Everywhen CEO Rob Worrell when he took on 40 rounds in the ring to raise funds in 2022.
In 2025, Give Back will be back – taking place on Friday 7 November as we unite behind our global charity partner, Médecins Sans Frontières. This year is set to be extra special, as we hope to break the £1 million mark, taking our overall total for Give Back fundraising since our very first event in 2017 six figures!
Speed of Sight: life in the fast lane
Just outside the Orangery building, we were delighted to feature a kit car from UK charity, Speed of Sight, which provides life-changing driving experiences to those with visual impairments, sight loss or disability.
In 2011, founder Mike Newman broke the first of many world records – setting a new blind land speed record, driving a motorcycle unassisted at 89 mph, and which he later broke again at 178mph in a BMW M5.
Bitten by the bug of driving, Speed of Sight Mike and team provide an invaluable experience for people with loss of sight who otherwise may never get to feel the thrill and empowerment of driving.
An ACT grant in 2021 helped the charity keeps its cars on the track, and it’s continued to go from strength to strength – now with seven specially adapted racing cars in its fleet.
In 2022, we were delighted to visit Speed of Sight on the track, spending the day learning about the impact of their work on people getting behind the wheel to experience the joy of driving and how the ACT grant provided had played its part.
View the virtual Retrospective in full
Step inside the Retrospective exhibition for yourself. See all the exhibits, as it comes to life online with our fully interactive virtual tour.
Packing up for a global tour
ACT: A Retrospective will set off on its journey of key locations and events across The Ardonagh Group. Over 2026, this capsule version of the exhibition aims to reach as many colleagues and friends of the Group as possible!
Learn more about ACT by exploring our website or following us @ardonaghCT.
