The Acorn 100k Charity Bike Ride which will take place on Saturday 11th May, will be the start of the big push to reach the charity’s £1 million target, according to Acorn Chairman, Louise Hanen.
The Acorn Sponsored Bike Ride which is in its seventh year is one of the key events for the charity which raises funds for research into Scleroderma disease at Leeds General Infirmary and for people with dementia and their carers in the Harrogate and Ripon area. Over the last six years, the Bike Ride alone has raised over £177,000 for the two causes and with the charity having raised over £850,000 since its inception in 1999, a target of £1,000,000 looks achievable in the next twelve months.
Chairman Louise Hanen said:
Last year we had a record number of cyclists at 560 and between them they raised an astounding £32,000. We are hoping to top the £1 million mark in the next twelve months and hope that this year’s event will go a good way to achieving that.
The annual bike ride starts at Bishop Monkton and follows a 100k circular route through Boroughbridge, Helperby, Easingwold, Sheriff Hutton, Linton on Ouse and Marton-cum-Grafton before returning to Bishop Monkton. The event involves 100 volunteers with lunch at Sheriff Hutton and tea and cake at the finishing point in Bishop Monkton. The route is fully marshalled with St John’s Ambulance on hand to deal with medical emergencies, Chevin Cycles of Otley with mechanical difficulties and signage provided by HACS, Imageco Visual Signing and Marsland Timber. Lunch is generously sponsored by Greencore Group, Bettys, Seabrook Crisps and Zubrance and the whole event is sponsored by Lights4Fun.
Louise Hanen said:
We are also delighted to announce that as a registered charity, cyclists can log on to our fundraising page on JustGiving as an easy way to generate sponsorship. This means that the charity can claim back Gift Aid making even more money for our very important local causes.
The Bike Ride began as a challenge for Acorn supporters in 2007 and has now become a very popular date in the cyclists’ calendar. Everyone is encouraged to join in from serious road cyclists to enthusiastic amateurs. Entries can be made online at www.acorncharity.org.uk. Teams from local businesses and clubs are also encouraged to get involved. Acorn is also looking for 100 marshals to help on the day of the 100k Bike Ride and anyone wishing to get involved in this way should contact Louise Hanen on 01423 734876 or email louisehanen@acorncharity.org.uk.
The next Acorn event is the Spring Fayre on Saturday 20th April at The Old Rectory at Spofforth. For more information about this or to enter the Bike Ride, go to www.acorncharity.org.uk or go to the Acorn Committee page on Facebook or follow on Twitter.
