Icom LTE Radios Keep Riders Connected on 77-Mile Highland Charity Ride

Scottish communications specialists Highland Signals Ltd have provided us with a great story about their support of the 2025 Bridge to Bridge Highland Cycle charity fundraiser, which took place on Saturday the 13th of September. The event was a huge success, with Icom LTE two-way radios playing a vital role.

The Bridge to Bride Highland Cycle was first launched in 2022 by Heather and Kevin Bannerman, who were inspired by their son's challenges to create an initiative that provided healthcare support for families of disabled children in the Scottish Highlands. Since then, William Gray (BEM) has lead the event organisation and thanks to a staggering amount of volunteers, it has now become an annual tradition for cycle enthusiasts all over the UK.

Over 200 riders participated in this year's event, navigating through the stunning Scottish Highlands on the 77-mile route from the Skye Bridge to the North Kessock Bridge. Working with the event safety team was owner of Highland Signals Ltd, Willie Macpherson, who used Icom LTE two-way radios to connect the various teams across the circuit. The IP503H LTE handsets and IP501M LTE mobile radios worked seamlessly, enabling marshals, race officials and volunteers to maintain clear, timely communication for a secure and well-coordinated event.

LTE radios use mobile networks to provide long range communication with the ease of push-to-talk operation. These units are designed for commercial use and allow multiple groups to communicate simultaneously.

The total amount raised for this event came to an incredible £104,257.43 which has been divided among three charities: The Elsie Normington Foundation, The Leanne Fund, and Day 1 Mentoring. The money raised will make a crucial difference to the lives of many and with next years' event already in the works, organisers are committed to making the event bigger and better each year.

Event organiser William Grey (BEM) commented, “Thanks to the generosity of our event sponsors, 100% of the money raised each year goes directly to our chosen charities, ensuring maximum impact for their work across the Highlands. Icom is one of our hugely generous sponsors and the support they provide for Bridge to Bridge is instrumental to the smooth and safe running of our event. Along our scenic route, phone service is often unavailable so the radios are essential for keeping us all connected. We are so grateful to have them as part of the team."

To learn more about Bridge to Bridge, including a link to sign up for next year, visit their Facebook page: Bridge to Bridge Highland Cycle.