Print.IT Reseller - issue 54

01732 759725 46 INTERVIEW 2018 also marks ten years since Jones first got back on his bike. “Turning 40 was a key driver for me to make some changes to my somewhat sedentary lifestyle. In common with most people, I was busy with my career, travelling up and down the country, raising a family and I realised I wasn’t doing much exercise,” he said. “Getting back into cycling has seen me get much fitter and lose weight, however there have also been some great mental health benefits – cycling is a great stress buster, it clears the mind and helps me focus,” he added. Jones cycles around 200 miles per week – the majority – around 130 miles – on the road with the balance completed on a static bike at home. He plans on increasing this to 300 miles per week in the run up to September and plans to build in one 70-mile round trip from home to the office into his training schedule each week. Both Jones and Brother UK turn 50 this year, and the cycling aficionado has decided to mark both milestones by riding the entire route of the Brother-sponsored 2018 OVO EnergyTour of Britain in September – one day ahead of the elite professional riders who will tackle the same demanding 704-mile long eight-stage course Brother UK MD Phil Jones, takes on £50K fundraising challenge Influential supporter As his passion for the sport grew. Jones became much more actively involved on both a personal and professional level. Under his leadership, Brother UK has become the most influential supporter of grassroots British cycle sport, providing consistent, committed support in a range of areas for the last seven years. The company is the official print and results partner of the OVO EnergyTour, helps seven development teams, sponsors some of Britain’s biggest races and funds a fleet of neutral service support vehicles which assist in the domestic racing calendar as well as helping out at many high profile sportives and single day events. “These vehicles support every team and every rider at multiple events, so it really works as a universal support service aligned with our values as a business,” he explained. The Tour of Britain, which has a history stretching back to the post war Turning 50 in 2018 made me think about doing something big in terms of a physical challenge, shine a light on some of the brilliant people I’ve met