12 July 2010
For the last 11 years Silvia Martinez has been admired by her colleagues at EDF Energy for cycling 20 miles a day to get to work and back.
Come rain or shine, Silvia has avoided the easier option of a car or public transport to get from her home in Worthing to the company’s offices in Portland Road, Hove.
So when she went into her back garden one evening and discovered that her bike had been stolen she was devastated.
What she didn’t know was that when her colleagues found out they were pretty upset too. Without telling her they quickly organised a secret collection and raised more than £200 for a new bike.
“I was in tears when I found out they’d organised a collection for me,” said Silvia, 55, who lives near Holmfield Park, Worthing.
“I was so surprised. I was in shock when they gave me the cheque and a lovely card with bicycles on it. It was a really, really beautiful thing to do.”
It was a welcome piece of good news for Silvia after a bad week. Two days after Silvia’s bike was stolen the thief came back and stole a bike belonging to her partner, John Dobereiner.
Silvia, a customer services advisor for EDF Energy, added: “We couldn’t believe it. My bike was stolen on the Monday and the neighbours heard the thief come back on the Wednesday in the early hours. They chased him but he got away with John’s bike. Now he’s looking for a new bike too.”
Jana Gebbels, one of Silvia’s colleagues said: “Once we heard about poor Silvia losing her bike we quickly got together and organised the collection. We think it’s amazing that she cycles so far to work every day and she was so upset. Everyone felt really sorry for her.”
Ends
For further information or to organise a time to send a photographer please contact Andrew Drinkwater or Charlotte Mitchell in the EDF Energy press office on 01293 509144.
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental and social programme of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.