MORE than 200 events businesses and professionals from around Bournemouth and Poole have shown their support for a charity cycle ride covering the whole of the country to raise awareness of the plight suffered by the industry.

Six industry stalwarts set up The Survival Tour and set off from Newcastle on Saturday October 3, aiming to clock up 930 miles by covering legs of the country, finishing in London on Sunday October 18.

The group of six passed through Dorset yesterday, arriving at Bournemouth Pavillion from Glastonbury on Wednesday night before setting off for Portsmouth from Chapel Gate, the venue for Bournemouth 7s, on Thursday morning.

The tour is being led by Steve Reynolds of production firm Loudsound, who said: “Having worked in the entertainment and events business for so many years, we all felt we had to do something, both to raise awareness to the public, who rarely see us behind the scenes, and inform the Government of the impending collapse of this sector, one that has grown year-on-year and is regarded as the best in the world, and is on the brink of collapse.

“Most of our friends and colleagues work in this industry, we know their families and they are suffering.

“In fact, it’s like a big extended family, and we couldn’t stand by and let it just disappear without trying to help.

“So, to anyone reading or listening, please come and join us or, if you can, make a donation on our donations page, thank you so much.”

The tour not only aims to drive awareness of the difficulties faced by events and entertainment businesses due to the coronavirus crisis, but to raise money for Backup charity, which provides financial support for the entertainment industry.

The cyclists were welcomed at Bournemouth’s Pavilion theatre by a host of local businesses including Bournemouth Coastal BID, Bournemouth 7s, Absolute Music and crowd management and event security firm Showsec, who have all shown their support for the campaign.

Managing Director of Bournemouth 7s Craig Mathie said: “As an £84 billion industry that employs over 700,000 people, there has been very little in the way of targeted support to the events industry, both regionally and nationally.

“It is just not good enough; that is just too many people’s livelihoods at risk.

“Events are everything to people. Everyone can remember their first festival, the first live show they went to or a special moment that they witnessed. They are everything to everyone

“The decision to keep the industry shut is crippling us. We are advocates for health and safety and would never put on an event that would compromise public safety.

“We all need to pull together on this one and continue banging the drum until something happens.”

Area manager for Showsec Andy Edwards added: “We are probably one of the biggest security firms in the country and have been doing the security for the BIC, O2 Academy, Bournemouth 7s and student events up and down the country.

“We have had to make massive cuts and we currently have no one working on events. It is sad really.

“It is important to get the message out there to show the government and decision makers just how many people, places and companies are being affected.”