CYCLE4CYNTHIA gets a boost of Parliamentary pedal power!
Cycle4Cynthia – the county’s annual bike extravaganza – will have the might of Westminster behind it this Sunday as Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris fires the starting gun to send riders on their way! And Chris, who in sporting terms is better known as a football referee, will be swapping his whistle for his wheels to join in the ride himself, one of the biggest fundraisers in the year for The Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support in Northamptonshire.
Said Chris “I’m really delighted to be playing my part in this wonderful occasion, not least because I consider the work of these two charities to be so vital but also because the ride takes in some of the most beautiful parts of my constituency. I’m so looking forward to seeing the hundreds of people who’ve generously signed up - I’m sure it will be quite a spectacle!”
Cycle4Cynthia has helped to raise more than £100,000 pounds for the two charities since it began six years ago and the organisers are hoping that this year will be the event’s ‘magnificent seventh’. Indeed, John Pinkham, who founded the ride, is delighted to have the MP’s support. ‘We’re so pleased that Chris is giving up one of his very rare free days away from the House to be with us and we know he’s going to send our riders off with a rousing message of support. And it’s still not too late to take part – riders can get entry forms from our website – www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk – and can even turn up on the day. Whatever the weather, we’ll be pedalling to raise as much money as we possibly can so come and join us!”
Cycle4Cynthia 2010 will, for the third year running, link up with the Saints and the event’s three routes of 5, 25 and 50 miles, beginning at 9am, will start and finish at the club’s home ground, Franklin’s Gardens. Entry is £15 for adults, £7.50 for children and £30 for families and entry forms and sponsorship forms are available by visiting www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk More details are also available by calling 01604 678088.
Sue Bownass, from the Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice, commented, “With only a few days to go there’s just time to wish all those taking part a fantastic day and to say thank you for their efforts. We have to raise £650,000 a year through fundraising activities and charitable donations to maintain our exceptional quality of care and I know that, with Northamptonshire’s support, we will achieve it!”
Meanwhile Marcus Cox, who is Macmillan Cancer Support s fundraising manager for Northamptonshire, added “It looks like this year the number of cyclists could exceed that of last year but we still want riders to come forward and make this the biggest and best one yet. The charity has an annual target of £518,000 for the county alone so I would encourage everyone to jump into their saddles and be part of this fabulous ride!”
To find out more about the event, or to download entry and sponsorship forms, log on to www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk or contact Sue Bownass on 01604 678088.
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Notes to editors:
Please find attached a photo of Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris who will be getting this year’s Cycle4Cynthia underway at Franklin’s Gardens at 9am this Sunday, 26th September.
About Chris Heaton-Harris:
Before entering politics, Chris Heaton-Harris joined and eventually ran his family’s business – a wholesale fruit and vegetable company based in New Covent Garden Market for eleven years (working nights all that time!)
He started his national political career by standing in the 1997 General Election in Leicester South. He also stood there, unsuccessfully again, in the 2004 by-election caused by the untimely death of Jim Marshall MP.
Chris was Conservative MEP for the East Midlands Region of the UK from June 1999 – June 2009. He held various positions in the European Parliament including that of Chief Whip of the British Conservatives from 2001-2004.
In the 2009 European Elections, he was named by the “Taxpayers’ Alliance” as being the MEP on mainland UK that was the most “hard-working, committed to transparency and accountability”
He became Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Daventry back in June 2006 and was elected MP for the new constituency (previously joined with South Northamptonshire) in May 2010 with a majority of almost 20,000.
Outside Westminster, Chris is an active and qualified football referee and has been officiating the game at different levels for nearly 30 years. He currently referees on the Northamptonshire Combination League most Saturday afternoons. He is also President of Earls Barton Football Club. Chris lives in Pitsford with his wife and two children.