Cycing can help you raise charity cash
Is there a cause you are passionate about or a charity you would like to help? Why not challenge yourself to a fundraising bike ride and raise cash for them at the same time?
Lots of large charities hold annual cycle rides both in the UK and abroad. Alternatively you could invent your own route or goal - whether it be cycling a long distance, or making a journey to a specific place - and ask people to sponsor you.
Knowing you are getting on a bike for a cause you really believe in can make a real difference to your life, as you can see from Mandy's story below.
| Mandy Gray, 39, was inspired to take up cycling to help raise cash for a charity close to her heart. |
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"My sister saw an advert in a magazine for a cycle challenge in Cuba. The ride was to raise money for a charity which funds research into women and babies health and as my sister has lost four babies, we felt that we would like to give it a go, although neither of us had ridden a bike for years. "I was apprehensive at first as I knew the training would be a huge commitment but I really began to enjoy it. It was great to have the motivation of going to Cuba, and also feeling like you were doing something for charity. “I had never done any long distance bike rides before and so I was surprised when I started doing the training at how quick and easy it was to build up the amount of miles I cycled. “We signed up about a year before the ride and I started off doing about five miles three times a week. It only took about half an hour so it was quite easy to fit in to a normal day. “When the evenings were dark I would go out on my bike in the mornings before work. It was so peaceful and I would see the sun coming up as I cycled around lovely country lanes. I began to enjoy it more and more. Before I knew it I was cycling 10 to 15 miles in an hour. Over the months I gradually built up the distances I was cycling so it didn’t feel difficult. “The Cuba challenge covered 250 miles over five days, at times in 80 degree heat. The temperature did make it a bit harder but it was really well organised and there were stops every 10 to 15km. There were 78 women on the ride and everyone was of a different fitness level but we weren’t there to race each other. It was amazing because everyone helped each other and we made so many friends along the way. “The charity provided a training programme for us to follow. At first you think you are never going to manage it but as the months go by and you tick off the targets you realise you can do it. When we got to Cuba they made sure that each day was achievable whatever your fitness level. I was quite lucky as I didn’t struggle too much, thanks to all the training, so I had time to stop and take photos and take in all of the wonderful scenery. The best thing was we went to parts of Cuba you would never go to as a tourist, cycling up and down hills, through valleys, swamps and remote villages. “Since doing the Cuba ride I really make the effort to travel by bike rather than use the car when I’m visiting relatives or going to the shops. There are some great places to cycle locally and I like just heading out and following my nose. I’m now in training to do another ride through China for the same charity next October and I can’t wait. This time we’re covering 280miles over five days so it’s even more of a challenge!” |
