Ride for Helen is back for 2019 taking place on Sunday 19th May for its sixth year and promises to be one of the region’s biggest and best cycling events for Helen Rollason Cancer Charity!
Cyclists from across the county and beyond will be meeting at the Crix in Hatfield Peverel, Essex to take part in this fantastic, family-friendly event which offers a choice of 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, refreshment stops and a medal for finishers.
This year there are six circular routes through the beautiful Essex countryside with distances of 6 miles, 15 miles, and new routes for 2019; 30 miles, 50 miles, 65 miles and 90 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.
50 miles – For the keen adult cyclist looking to challenge their ability on country roads passing through Great Leighs, Felsted, Thaxted, Stisted, Black Notley and Fairstead.
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.
90 miles – For the elite adult cyclist looking for a great ride passing through Great Leighs, Felsted, Thaxted, Steeple Bumpstead, Great Yeldham, Bures Hamlet, Wakes Colne, and Great Braxted.
All adult registrations for the 6 mile route qualify for TWO FREE CHILD places and if you get 5 friends or colleagues to sign up you will receive a DISCOUNT OF 20% off your own booking fee.
Helen Rollason Cancer Charity CEO Kate Alden said: “We are all really looking forward to this year’s Ride for Helen as it’s always such an exciting and popular event which attracts a variety of participants. We have worked really hard to map out the best and safest routes through the beautiful Essex countryside and included new routes this year to ensure that all of our riders have a fantastic experience.
It is always fantastic to see families, groups of friends, and experienced cyclists all enjoying the ride. We also feel very lucky that our patron Ian Twinley, has kindly allowed us to use the beautiful grounds of The 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.
Last year, almost 1,000 cyclists took part in Ride for Helen, raising over £30,000 for the charity. We are hoping to beat that total in 2019 especially as the charity is celebrating its 20th anniversary. If everyone on the day donated an extra £2 in our collection tins, this would raise an extra £2,000 which would go towards the running of our Support Centres, helping enable quality of life while living with cancer.
This year, Ride for Helen is celebrating our sixth anniversary and to date you have helped us raise over £150,000 to enable quality of life while living with cancer – on behalf of all our clients; thank you!”
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 fundraising@helenrollason.org.uk
Last year, Duncan Bradford, 40 from Danbury took part in the 6 mile route with daughters Ella, 7 and Lily 9; “In 2017 I took part in the 65 mile route and had such a fantastic time I wanted to come back again this year with the girls. The 6 mile route was a perfect distance and what with it being such a family friendly event and supporting a local charity, we all had a brilliant time.”
Freddie Joslin, 12 from Heybridge, amazingly completed the 35 mile route, being one of the youngest to take part in the distance. “I felt really tired once I’d completed the route but also a huge sense of achievement – I think I’m going to flop out on the sofa for the rest of the day! It’s great to support the charity while also doing something fun at the same time.”
Regular cyclist Kevin Smith, 54 from Dunmow took part in the 65 mile route; “As a keen cyclist, I have taken part in various cycle rides in the past and I have to say that the organisation of Ride for Helen has been fantastic with the routes well mapped-out and clearly signed.”
Marrianne Irving, 45 from Little Waltham, was one of the many volunteers giving up their time to support the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity; “In 2010 I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and was treated at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. The HRCC Support Centre at Rochelle House in Chelmsford helped me so much during a very scary time in my life. I received reflexology treatments and counselling from the team there and the support was invaluable to my recovery. To give something back to this incredible charity I regularly volunteer at their events – Ride for Helen is one of my favourites and I am very proud to help out on the day.”
Registration is now open for Ride for Helen 2019. Visit www.rideforhelen.co.uk or call 01245 380719 to book your tickets today!
