Butterfield sets goal of $200,000 on charity ride
When it comes to saddling up for a fund-raiser money Tom Butterfield is the wheel deal. Come June 1 he will set off with three companions on his eleventh pedal-powered odyssey to swell the coffers of the Masterworks Foundation, of which he is the indefatigable director.
The 1,000-mile ride will begin and end in London, and the proposed route, designed with Masterworks’ new museum in the Botanical Gardens in mind, could be described as a work of art in itself. Plans call for Mr. Butterfield and his fellow cyclists Jay Nichols, Keith Hynes and Masterworks board member Elspeth Brewin to visit major artwork museums and collections in London, Amsterdam, Ghent and Bruges.
All proceeds from the gruelling journey will go towards Masterworks’ educational programmes.
Mr. Butterfield began his biennial, pedal-powered fundraisers eleven years ago in 1996 in order to raise funds for the Masterworks Foundation.
“Each bike ride has raised between $150,000 and $180,000, but this year we are setting our sights high and aiming for $200,000,” he says. “Without these donations Masterworks could not offer such a wide range of programmes and activities to the community.”
Although the wheels won’t start rolling until June 1, 125 pledges have already been received.
Asked why he continues to literally push his way around Europe when there are easier ways to boost the Foundation’s coffers, the deals-on-wheels mastermind says: “I enjoy doing funding this way because those I approach can make a donation at a level they are comfortable with, and it provides a wide variety of people who can contribute.”
[bul] Pledges from five cents to $5 per mile can be sent to Masterworks by one of the following methods: email: mworks[AT]ibl.bm
Anyone wishing to track the progress of the cyclists during their journey should log on to the Masterworks website at www.bermudamasterworks.com
[rt] Reminder: Today is the final day for artists to submit their entries for the May 20 Butterfield Bank Art Festival in the Botanical Gardens. Entries should be dropped off at Masterworks in the Botanical Gardens. For further information
