We’re delighted to be once again sponsoring the Stokesley Bike Ride and this year, we hope to achieve record donations.
For the third year in a row, we’re supporting the 30 mile circular charity bike ride, which sees the challengers take a demanding but beautiful ride around picturesque Stokesley and the surrounding area.
Over the last 18 years, the charity has raised £121,395 for numerous organisations including Macmillan Cancer Support and Herriot Hospice Homecare. This year’s nominated charity is UK based Bloodwise, formerly Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, which has been beating blood cancers since 1960 and is a charity close to home.
The annual bike ride has been a tradition since 1998 and has thrived ever since. There are many cyclists who have been riding since the first race with their children and grandchildren now joining the exciting event. The community prides itself on raising money for local charities with the main aim of the bike ride to provide valuable funds.
Main Event Organiser Paul Mackintosh planned the very first race and has continued to do a fantastic job year on year.
He said: “It’s an honour to be part of this and to see so many people enjoying their bikes and raising money for very worthy local charities.”
There are a number of key supporters of the bike ride and without them, the bike ride would not be running. One of these supporters is the creator of the Stokesley Bike Ride website, Mike Newton, who as a committed cyclist, is very passionate about the event.
Des, Hazel and Yvonne Brown (grandparents and aunty of Chloe Brown, the little girl who the first bike ride was created for back in 1998) also work hard to make sure the event runs every year.
Not to mention Garry Dunn and his team of scouts, Tom and Trudi from the Dog & Gun pub at Potto (a pit stop for some of the riders), St John’s Ambulance and the marshals who every year ensure all the riders are safe and sound.
More and more local businesses are getting involved each year to help with the day, including Integrated Office Systems (IOS), based at Teesside Industrial Estate, who donated the presentation card for the race certificates.
It goes without saying that were it not for the efforts of all of these people, the Stokesley Bike Ride would not happen, so we can’t thank them enough for contributing to what is always a fantastic day.
If you’d like to enter the Stokesley Bike Ride, you need to know the following information:
- The bike ride is on Sunday 8th May
- Entry is £10 in advance or £12 on the day – under-16s race for free
- Maximum entrants is 450 (so sign up now)
- All proceeds will be going to Bloodwise, so please raise as much money as you can
