Sportives Support Local Charities

Sportives Support Local Charities

Cyclists taking part in the Derby Spring Classic Sportive event on Sunday April 23 and the North Derbyshire Challenge in September will be raising money for two local charities.

Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre was the nominated charity for last year’s two sportives which are organised by Cycle Derby and HUUB Events.

They will continue to be supported this year alongside Ashgate Hospice Care which provides support, care and specialist therapy services to people in their own homes across North Derbyshire as well as at the hospice in Chesterfield.

Christine Selden, Fundraising Manager for Ashgate Hospice Care explained: “We need to raise £7 million every year to run the hospice and to provide our services free of charge to the people of North Derbyshire who are living with a life-limiting illness.

“We care for about 2,200 people a year but we know that the figure is nearer 3,000 who need our care.

“With the support of the public and now participants in the Derby Spring Classic Sportive, we can continue to care for patients and get close to our goal of reaching everyone who needs us.”

Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre in Skegness, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last year, provides hundreds of under-privileged youngsters with five-day on the east coast.

Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre Chairman Bill Tomlinson said: “We had a great response from the Sportive entrants last year and hope for their continued support at this year’s events.

 “Our aim is to enable more deserving young people, some of whom are having trouble in their home lives and who may never even have had a holiday, to enjoy a much needed break by the sea, and create a sustainable future for the centre.”

On April 23, cyclists of all ages and abilities have the choice of three distances – 40k, 80k and 160k – starting and finishing at Markeaton Park with routes around South Derbyshire and East Staffordshire.

Geldards law firm in Derby are also sponsoring the Team Challenge event which is an opportunity for groups of up to ten cyclists to work together in an attempt to travel the greater distance.  The team with the greatest total distance will take home the coveted Geldards Team Challenge title.

Mark Smith from Cycle Derby said: “More than 900 riders joined the Spring Classic Sportive last year and we are on course to match and, hopefully, exceed entries this year.

“The Derby Spring Classic Sportive has something for everyone with three different distance routes and we have also introduced a King/Queen of the Mountain challenge for those undertaking the longer distances.

“As well as seasoned cyclists, we are attracting a lot of people and young families who are new to the sport which meets our objective of getting more people active.

“In addition, Cycle Derby will be organising a range of family activities in Markeaton Park to introduce young people to cycling and encourage a new generation to catch the cycling bug!”

For more information on how to support these charities and to enter the Derby Spring Classic Sportive, please visit www.huubevents.com

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