Rain can’t ruin record-breaking ride!
Northamptonshire’s favourite fundraising bike ride, Cycle 4 Cynthia, has done it again, with a total of almost 1100 riders taking part in the annual event at Althorp on Sunday (23rd September), making it another record-breaker!The ride, which has raised almost £200,000 for the Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support in the county since it began eight years ago and which saw nearly 900 cyclists take part last year, was officially opened by BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley.
Thanking the assembled throng of two-wheelers for their support and warning them not to imitate her own youthful cycling catastrophe when she broke her shoulder coming off a friend’s bike just outside the gates – a spot which the family now refers to as ‘collarbone corner’ – Jo fired the starting gun to set off the riders on their 50, 25 and 5 mile route before leaping into the saddle to pedal the 5 miles with her husband Steve and 13 year old son Jude. “I can’t believe what an amazing sight it was,” said Jo “to see all those riders stretching as far as the eye could see down the path in front of the house. It really was the most wonderful atmosphere with everyone keen to do their bit in support of these two fantastic charities. The whole family loved being here and we’ve already pledged to do 25 miles next year!”
Also adding a high-profile seal of approval to the event were BBC Radio Northampton afternoon presenter John Griff, who was aboard a borrowed bicycle after his own was recently stolen, and Saints coach Jim Mallinder who rode the middle distance with his son Harry and fellow club staff members - a relatively gentle pedal compared with the 200km leg of the Tour de France in which he took part earlier in the summer. “Being an avid cyclist myself, and with the Saints keen to support community events, it was a real privilege to be asked to get involved with the ride. How could I say no?!” said Jim.
“It was also touching to hear the personal stories of why so many riders were taking part and so I’ll definitely be getting a few more pedalling in my black, green and gold team next year!” he added.
Others leaping into their saddles included Peter Semler from Blakesley, who created quite a spectacle by cycling 25 miles on his penny farthing, Keith Chant from New Duston, who was celebrating his 72nd birthday by cycling 50 miles with his son Paul in memory of his father-in-law who’d been cared for at the hospice and the Newman family from Burton Latimer - Mum Dionne, Dad Dave and children Kian aged 2 and nine year old Georgie. As Dionne explained, they too were remembering a loved one. “My step-mum’s dad was helped by both Macmillan and the hospice and we felt this would be a super way for the family to come together for a great day out as well as raise money for these two most deserving causes.”
Finally, after securing the ‘largest team’ prize last year with 74 riders, the Northampton building services firm Briggs and Forrester all but doubled their efforts to win a free drinks reception at Althorp, a prize generously offered by Earl Spencer to the biggest corporate entry, with 144 riders pedalling the west Northamptonshire countryside.
And so it was that, despite the rain that tumbled for the latter part of the event, Sue Bownass from the Friends hailed C4C 2012 as a great success. “While the earlier finishers had the best of the weather, even the later riders’ spirit wasn’t dampened by the miserable conditions. In fact everyone was incredible, grinning as they crossed under the finishing arch.
“On behalf of the hospice and Macmillan, we want to say a massive thank you to all the riders and of course to the volunteers who marshalled, manned the pit stops or handed out the medals, without whom we wouldn’t have had such a remarkable day!” she enthused.
While the number of riders taking part is a twenty percent increase on last year’s figure, it will be some time before it’s known if the 2011 total of £47,000 has been bettered. Riders are kindly encouraged to collect their sponsorship money as quickly as possible and deliver or send it to The Friends of Cynthia Hospice, Manfield Campus, Kettering Road, Northampton NN3 6NP, making cheques payable to ‘Cycle 4 Cynthia’.
To see more pictures of the ride at Althorp, or to pledge your support or sponsorship for next year, please visit www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk