Riders Encouraged to Support The Prostate Cancer Charity Again

January 2012

The Prostate Cancer Charity (TPCC) is once again the Ride's official Charity Partner and, after a very successful first year for the partnership in 2011, the hope is that as many riders as possible will once again sign up to support this very worthy cause.

The support from Ride participants in 2011 was fantastic and surpassed all expectations - over 100 riders signed up to support TPCC, and over £22,000 was raised in sponsorship in total - and the aim now is to do even better in 2012.

To help with that, and also to show its appreciation for riders' support and efforts, TPCC has come up with a double incentive/reward this year.

Any sponsored riders who raise £100 or more for the Charity (excluding Gift Aid) will receive a free TPCC 'buff' (a very nice 'snood'-type scarf for neck or head - see image below), and any riders who go on to raise over £200 will ALSO receive a FREE top-quality cycling jersey (2011 jersey shown below - 2012 design still to be confirmed):

Riders are welcome to register NOW to support the Charity - it's never too early for participants to sign up and commit to helping others through their efforts on the Ride, even if they don't start fundraising straight away.

It really is a very worthwhile cause, and with your support again the Charity will be able to help even more men and their families in the fight against this dreadful disease.

If you would like any further information please see our 'Charity Partner' page, where you will find contact details for the Charity as well as information on the fundraising support that's available.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

2012 Ride Improvements

December 2011

We're always looking at ways in which we can improve the Great Weston Ride experience for riders, and there are definitely going to be some changes for 2012 - and we're pleased to confirm the first two of these:

Firstly, work is in progress in terms of the overall end-of-Ride facilities and provision, and details/arrangements will be confirmed in due course.  But in the meantime we CAN confirm an additional benefit for riders at the finish, which is that next year all riders will definitely receive a well-deserved 2012 Great Weston Ride medal for their efforts as they cross the finish line!

And we're also pleased to announce that in 2012 there will be FREE tea and coffee on offer for all riders at the second official refreshment stop - so all the more reason to pull in there for a short break!

That's two additional features for riders to look forward to, and hopefully we'll be able to confirm one or two more improvements soon!

In the meantime, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous New Year, and we look forward to seeing you in 2012.

2011 Great Weston Ride helps to raise over £30K for charity

November 2011

The final totting up has been done and, at a meeting in London at the end of October, the Great Weston Ride's official charity partner The Prostate Cancer Charity was absolutely delighted to announce that it had received sponsorship monies totalling just under £22,000 from riders who took part in the 2011 Great Weston Ride.

We're also aware via riders of a number of other charities that were supported during the 2011 Ride and the fundraising that we know about, together with the money received by The Prostate Cancer Charity, means that AT LEAST £30,000 was raised for charity as a whole by this year's participants. And the exact total may well be significantly higher, as this is just based on the figures that we've been told about!

Therefore, we'd like to say a massive 'THANK YOU' to everyone who used their considerable efforts in 2011 to support The Prostate Cancer Charity and a host of other worthy causes (including the likes of Meningitis UK, RNLI, Army Benevolent Fund, Kidney Research, SOS Children's Villages, and others), and this means that the Great Weston Ride has already helped to raise over £50,000 in total for charity in its first two years of existence. Congratulations everyone!

Naturally, The Prostate Cancer Charity is also absolutely delighted with the fundraising effort on its behalf, especially in its first year of association with the event, and they would also like to say a huge thanks to all those riders who so generously supported them.

Sara Woodgate, speaking on behalf of the Charity, commented: "The support from riders on the Great Weston Ride has been phenomenal and this was highlighted by all the blue jerseys worn on the day. We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone that took part and fundraised for us. Your support means that we have now raised £22,000 to help fight prostate cancer and help support men and their families affected by this disease. This is a fantastic achievement and we hope to do even better in 2012!".

Over 100 riders signed up to support the Charity this year, and the aim now is to see if we can get even more people sporting the TPCC blue (hopefully minus rain jackets!) in 2012.

Please visit our 'Charity Partner' page for further information on The Prostate Cancer Charity, how to get in touch, and how to support the Charity through the 2012 Great Weston Ride. (And there WILL once again be a fundraising incentive for riders in 2012 - details to be confirmed shortly).