Ride for Helen cycle event gets back behind the handlebars!

Social Distance Friendly Ride for Helen cycle event gets back behind the handlebars!

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity is delighted to announce that its annual cycle event Ride for Helen is taking place on Sunday 16^thMay 2021 for its eighth year!

Plus, cyclists now have the opportunity to take part in a Virtual Ride for Helen which can be completed in their own space and time.

Social distancing measures have been put in place to ensure riders can take part with confidence and guidelines set out by British Cycling have been followed.

Cyclists from across the county and beyond will be meeting at Crix in Hatfield Peverel, Essex to take part in this fantastic, family-friendly event which offers a choice of four cycling routes to suit all capabilities. All ages and abilities are welcome to join in as individuals or as a team and included in the registration price is a fundraising pack, route maps, route signage, first aid support, mobile mechanic support and recovery, refreshments and a medal for finishers.

You now have the option to sign up for a Virtual Ride for Helen; simply choose your distance and cycle in your own space and time. Whether it be outdoors or on an indoor training bike, complete your distance and receive your medal!

This year there are four circular routes through the beautiful Essex countryside with distances of 6 miles, 15 miles, 30 miles and 65 miles all starting and finishing at Hatfield Peverel.

6 miles – For the beginner or families with children, cycling on country lanes and roads around Hatfield Peverel.

15 miles – For the occasional cyclist looking for a pleasant ride passing through Church End, Rank’s Green, and Fairstead.

30 miles – For the regular cyclist looking for a challenge, cycling on roads passing through Rank’s Green, White Notley, Silver End, Kelvedon and Great Braxted.

65 miles – For the experienced adult cyclist looking for a challenging ride passing through Great Leighs, Felsted, Thaxted, Steeple Bumpstead, Finchingfield, Stisted, Black Notley and Fairstead.

All adult registrations for the 6 mile route qualify for TWO FREE CHILD places.

Cyclist numbers have been restricted so if you don’t want to miss out book your place today at www.rideforhelen.co.uk where you can also sign up for the Virtual option.

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity CEO Kate Alden said: “

Last year almost 600 cyclists from around the county and beyond took part in Ride for Helen 2020, raising in the region of £35,000!

We are all really looking forward to this year’s Ride for Helen which is always such an exciting and popular event; we know many people took up cycling during Lockdown so this is a great opportunity to get outside on two wheels again and support Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

To ensure that you can enjoy a safe and worry-free ride we are putting in place extensive safety measures to look after our riders; Covid-19 is still very much a threat so numbers may be limited in line with Government guidelines and we have had to reduce the number of routes, however I promise this will still be a fun filled day. Full details of all the social distancing measures we have put in place can be found on our website; www.rideforhelen.co.uk

My fundraisers and I have worked hard to map out the best and safest routes through the beautiful Essex countryside and to ensure that all of our riders have a fantastic experience. A huge thank you to Spokes of Chelmsford who will be offering complimentary bike checks, Wilkin and Sons for sponsoring the winner’s medals and Multitech Site Services in Great Dunmow for offering funds to help support our event.

We are fortunate that our patron Ian Twinley and wife Alison, have kindly allowed us to use the beautiful grounds of Crix as a starting and finishing point every year. We couldn’t organise such an amazing and successful event without the help of our dedicated team of volunteers, staff, sponsors and supporters who will all be appropriately protected with PPE on the day.

We are also delighted to welcome Paralympic Gold medallist Danny Crates who will be taking part in the 65 mile route.

It costs around £850,000 annually to keep our charity operational. Therefore we really need to make this event a success and raise as much money as possible to keep our vital charity operational.

During Lockdown we have been supporting clients with welfare calls and telephone counselling as well as setting up an online directory of support and virtual groups. Between July and December 2020, we provided almost 1,000 hours of counselling to support people living with cancer. Here are some examples of the impact this has had on clients:

“You have helped me so much. I honestly do not think I would have got through this period without your weekly support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

“The counsellor has given me back my joy in life. She has taught me how to deal with my own concerns using methods enabling me to deal with worries and fears as they come along. I have hope again and even look to the future with plans that I had long shelved. Cancer will be here long after Covid-19. Please help to ensure the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity is also still here.”

We have plans to start re-opening our Support Centres soon but we can only do it with your support; sign up today at www.rideforhelen.co.uk and help us to continue enabling quality of life while living with cancer.”

If cycling isn’t your thing but you’d still like to get involved, why not volunteer on the day? We have lots of fun and exciting roles for you to get stuck into – call us on 01245 380719 for more information or email [email protected]

Registration is now open for Ride for Helen 2021. Visit www.rideforhelen.co.uk or call 01245 380719 to book your tickets today!