As the Olympic Games in Rio proceed, a senior wealth managers has caught the sporting bug, taking to the roads of the UK in a cycling and sports challenge to raise money for a venture that uses sport to transform young lives.

A senior wealth manager has ditched his usual work attire to cycle 1,000 kilometres in 10 days and then complete 10 Olympic sports during that period – all for a good cause.

Carnegie Smyth, who is managing director at UK-based Signia Wealth, started his challenge at the weekend and his visit involves him visiting 10 member clubs involved with Sported, an organisation using the power of sport to beat problems among young people such as crime, anti-social behaviour and obesity.

“Sported supports some amazing community organisations across the UK, so I can’t wait to meet some of the inspirational volunteers and, of course, try my hand at some of the sports,” he said. 

Sported, which is a membership organisation, supports more than 3,000 community sport clubs and youth groups across the UK, affecting more than 450,000 young people. It provides business and financial support so clubs can become bigger, more sustainable and more effective.

Smyth is a trustee of Sported and all money from his challenge will go to the organisation. His challenge began in Belfast and ends up, appropriately enough, in London’s Olympic Park, taking him through Scotland and Wales. At the end of each day’s cycling Carnegie will be put to the test as he joins young people in an array of sporting activities, including boxing, archery, sailing, hockey and basketball.