School Cyclists raise money for Leicester Hospitals’ Our Space Appeal – last Sunday 23rd September 2012
Around 200 cyclists battled it out in gruelling weather conditions on Sunday 23rd September to raise money for the Leicester Hospitals’ Our Space Appeal.
Staff, parents, pupils and friends of Ratcliffe College, Loughborough Endowed Schools and Oakham completed a 100 mile cycle route around Leicestershire and Rutland. They were also joined by 2004 Olympic Silver medallist Bryan Steel, a member of the GB National Cycling Team.
The first riders set out from Ratcliffe College at 7am, with the route taking them to Loughborough in the morning, back to Ratcliffe at lunchtime, out to Oakham in the afternoon and then finishing again at Ratcliffe in the early evening.
The route was not for the faint-hearted, as it involved a 5,300ft climb through Charnwood Forest and the hills around Oakham in Rutland. The weather conditions, which were good to begin with, worsened dramatically during the day, making the final stretch extremely challenging for the riders. Despite that, the cyclists returned to Ratcliffe victorious, where they enjoyed well-earned food, drink and rest!
Andrew Yell, Development Director at Ratcliffe College, who was one of the riders himself, added: ‘Even in spite of the terrible weather, the event was fantastic, and the amount of support that we’ve seen is just remarkable. From cyclists to volunteers, to sponsors, so many people have given their all to make this day a success. Thank you so much to everyone involved.’