This year’s annual Great Milk Stout charity cycle ride has raised £17,500 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. At a presentation evening held at Ye Olde Oak Inn in Low Laithe last week, organisers of the ride handed over a cheque to Macmillan fundraising manager, Charlotte Stern.
The Great Milk Stout Ride, has become an institution and has grown to become upper Nidderdale’s largest fundraising event, generating almost £450,000 for Macmillan since it began in 1993. The idea was born out of a challenge to see who could raise the most money for charity among the regulars at the Birch Tree Inn, Wilsill.
It was decided to donate the money raised to Macmillan Cancer Support, whose nurses provide care for cancer sufferers, and as a memorial to a local Glasshouses man – and friend – John Woodhouse, who had recently died from cancer and whose family had received essential support from Macmillan.
Since then the event, which takes place in September every year, has grown to become a fixture for hundreds of cyclists and charity fundraisers. Setting off from the showground in Pateley Bridge, intrepid cyclists can choose the 20-mile Full Monty, the ten-mile Half-Litre route, or the punishing X-treme 25, which includes the one-in-four ascent of the vertiginous Silver Hill out of Pateley Bridge.
Chairman of the Great Milk Stout Ride, Mike Holt, said:
It’s tremendously encouraging that even in the current economic climate, through people’s generosity and determination we have raised £17,500 for Macmillan – an incredibly worthy cause. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part and all the local businesses who have supported us in raising our total.
So many people’s lives have been touched by cancer and it is particularly sad that earlier this year Barbara Woodhouse, the widow of John, in whose memory the Great Milk Stout Ride was started, also passed away from cancer. It shows how vital events like these are in raising money for cancer care.
At the presentation evening trophies were also presented teams and individuals who had raised the largest amount of sponsorship in each category, and also for fancy dress. The Team Challenge Trophy was won for a second year by the Woodhouse Wanderers; the Rob Smith Memorial Trophy was won by Marion Stockdale; Chris and Marjorie Sexton scooped the fancy dress prize for the second year running dressed as Hia and Lowa Watha. The Pateley Club was the winner of the Pub Shield, and the Patrick Bickers Memorial Shield for Corporate Teams was won by All Occasions Marquees for a second year.
Mike Holt and Bob Drake, two of the Great Milk Stout Ride organisers, present a cheque to Macmillan fundraising manager, Charlotte Stern
