Celebration and launch of Cycle4Cynthia
Photocall: Tuesday, July 17th @ 12.30pmCynthia Spencer Hospice, Kettering Road, Northampton NN3 6NP
More than 30 doctors, nurses, families, patients, county cycle clubs and local businesses get on their bikes to launch Cycle4Cynthia 2007 – complete with balloons, trikes, tandems, Lycra and baby carriers.
Get on your bike for charity! Cycle4Cynthia 2007 is taking place on Sunday, October 7th and has today (July 17) been launched at Cynthia Spencer Hospice.
This year’s event (which includes a 12 mile yellow route, the moderately demanding, orange 25 mile route and the 50 mile challenging blue route) will once again be raising money for two charities, The Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support - which both provide care and support for people with terminal illness in Northamptonshire.
Sue Bownass, Community Fundraiser for the Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice, said: “Last year’s Cycle4Cynthia raised over £35,000 and this year’s is set to raise even more. Cycle4Cynthia is now an event that people from all across the county look forward to and plan for. People have been phoning us since Christmas, asking when they can enter and when the event will take place, so we’re delighted to launch Cycle4Cynthia 2007 and to be raising money for two such essential and worthwhile charities.”
Lisa Donald, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, added: “Having been through cancer myself this is a cause close to my heart and I’m thrilled to be launching Cycle4Cynthia and to be raising much needed funds for Northamptonshire. The event is a wonderful opportunity for people and businesses from all corners of the county to come together, have fun, get fit doing it and fundraise at the same time. A winning combination!”
The Cycle4Cynthia bike ride, now in its third year, has an added cog to its wheel this October – with microchips which will be given out to all cyclists on the day of the event.
Like last year there will also be a repeat of the highly successful 12 mile corporate challenge, which will see local businesses cycling to compete for a series of trophies.
Helen Mannion, Fundraising Manager, Cynthia Spencer Hospice Charitable Trust, explained: “The corporate challenge was a huge success last year with a real sense of camaraderie and friendly competition among local businesses. This year we’re appealing for even more companies to support the fundraising fun. Not only is Cycle4Cynthia a great team building event, but it also offers businesses a real chance to get out into the community.”
Companies entering the Corporate Challenge will be able to enter as many employees/participants as they like (the minimum is four). T-shirts with company logos and branding will be available and the entry cost is £10 per team member.
The start line for all Cycle4Cynthia cyclists is the Nationwide Administration Centre in Moulton Park, Northampton. There will be staggered start times, commencing at 9am and a prize giving ceremony at 1pm, which all participants are invited to attend.
For individuals, entry is £10 per person and children under 12 go free. For details and sponsorship forms, log on to www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk or contact Sue Bownass on 01604 678088.
For corporate details only: To register your team and for further information contact Helen Mannion, Fundraising Manager, Cynthia Spencer Hospice Charitable Trust, on 01604 678143 or via email on helen.mannion@csh.org.uk.
Notes to editors
• Cynthia Spencer Hospice provides a specialist health service for people whose illness is no longer curable. The hospice currently serves a population of more than 300,000 people and is a purpose-built 20-bedded unit. For information log onto www.csh.co.uk or phone Sue Bownass, Community Fundraising – on 01604 678088.
• Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support for people affected by cancer. One in three of us will be touched by cancer. 1.2 million of us are living with it. Macmillan Cancer Support is a force for change: listening to people affected by cancer and working together for better cancer care. For information log on to www.macmillan.org.uk/Northamptonshire or phone Lisa Donald, Fundraising Manager for Northamptonshire – on (01604) 647532
• With Gift Aid to date Cycle 4 Cynthia has raised well in excess of £95,000.
For press information only ring:
Press officer: Jessica Pilkington on 07966 529203
Sue Bownass, Friends of Cynthia Spencer: 01604 678088
Lisa Donald, Macmillan Cancer Support: 01604 647532