Cycle4Cynthia gains ‘VIP’ status!
Following last year’s successful move to its new home of Althorp, the county’s favourite annual fundraising bike ride has now been offered VIP – that’s ‘Very Important Pedallers’ - access to start and finish right outside Earl Spencer’s front door!
Cycle 4 Cynthia, which has raised almost £200,000 for the Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support since it began eight years ago, has been given the rare opportunity to use the house as its backdrop – a personal invitation from Lord Spencer himself after witnessing the success of last year’s ride.
“Last year my wife started the ride with the cyclists setting off from Althorp’s West Gate,” explained the Earl. “It was quite a sight, watching hundreds of them pedal off down the driveway and past the house. But we are so committed to this event, which supports these two key charities in Northamptonshire, that we want the very best for it. So this year we’re moving the starting and finishing points to right in front of the house. I hope this will make the day that little bit more special – and hopefully encourage even more cyclists to take part, which will then of course lead to more money raised for Cynthia Spencer Hospice and for Macmillan.”
The invitation follows Earl Spencer’s generous pledge made earlier this year to reward the largest corporate team from Northamptonshire to take part with a free drinks reception at Althorp, and for Cherida Plumb from Macmillan Cancer Support, this further offer couldn’t have been more timely; “We were already making plans to stage a family fun day alongside the ride so that supporters could come and enjoy some games and activities while their loved ones were out en route,” said Cherida. “Having this beautiful stately home as our backdrop is just going to be the icing on what promises to be a really delicious cake!”
The news of the move into the expansive grounds also seems to be going down well with the cyclists themselves, including Claire Dixon from Spinney Hill, whose Mum passed away at the hospice on New Year’s Eve 2010; “Raising money at last year’s ride was a great way to say thank you for the incredible care my Mum received,” explained Claire. “But we were on the edge of the estate and only really glimpsed the house as we pedalled past so I think that moving the whole event to what is effectively Earl Spencer’s front lawn is going to be amazing!”
This year’s Cycle 4 Cynthia is taking place at Althorp on Sunday 23rd September. If you would like to take part, either as a corporate team, a family or as an individual, or would like a stall at the family fun day at a cost of £25, please call Sue Bownass at Cynthia Spencer Hospice on 01604 678088 or visit www.cycle4cynthia.com
- 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-bed unit. For information, log on to www.csh.co.uk or phone Sue Bownass, Community Fundraising, on 01604 678088.
- Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support to families affected by cancer. For information log on to www.macmillan.org.uk/Northamptonshire or ‘phone Cherida Plumb, Fundraising Manager for Northamptonshire on 07793118722
- 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.
- Cycle4Cynthia will be able to reclaim 25p for every £1 given as long as the sponsors place their HOME ADDRESS details on the forms
- • Althorp has been home to the Spencer family for more than 500 years and contains a fascinating variety of pictures, furniture and ceramics as well as some fine interiors. Althorp is delighted to welcome visitors to explore the house, including its award-winning exhibition Diana: A Celebration, stroll through the park and relax in the beautiful gardens from 1st July to 30th August inclusive. For more details visit www.althorp.com