BUDDING Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froomes at a Worcester firm used pedal power to help raise funds for high-flying lifesavers.

Employees at Worcester-based Open GI cycled more than 200 miles, across six counties, in aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance which has a base at Strensham, near Upton-upon-Severn.

The riders and their support crew made their way across the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and finished where they started, at home in Worcester.

The fund-raiser, dubbed the Tour de Midlands, saw the group visit each Midlands Air Ambulance base in the region as they raised vital funds and awareness for the charity.

Their efforts have raised more than £1,500 so far and the Open GI board has pledged to donate an additional £6,000 to the Midlands Air Ambulance if the Worcester firm’s fund-raising target of £6,000 is reached.

The same approach last year saw a grand total of £14,992.05 raised for Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Annie Newell, fund-raising manager at the Midlands Air Ambulance, said: “It is so gratifying to see the tremendous effort that Open GI staff are making in aid of our charity.

“To have the support of key businesses in the community is essential in continuing to carry out the vital work that we do.”

Chris Guillaume, CEO of Open GI, said: “I am delighted with the efforts being made by our staff in helping raise funds for such a worthwhile cause.

“It currently costs the charity in excess of £6 million to remain operational and it is entirely reliant on public funding, so it will make a huge difference to the charity if we can meet our target.”