Mammoth 12-hour New Forest challenge to support PEDALL inclusive cycle charity
PUBLISHED ON: 5 SEPTEMBER 2024The cycle lead of PEDALL New Forest Inclusive Cycling will complete a 12-hour endurance challenge to raise awareness and funds for the charity. PEDALL offers guided sessions on a fleet of specialist bikes to those who may otherwise face a barrier to cycling or accessing the National Park.
PEDALL Operations Manager, Gareth Jones, will ride from dawn until dusk alongside volunteers on a loop at New Park, Brockenhurst. This will see him complete a one-kilometre circuit as many times as possible, supported by regular riders including from Minstead Trust, Tiptoe Primary School and New Forest MENCAP, Forest organisations such as the New Forest National Park Authority and Forestry England, among others.
The PEDALL team will kick off the relay at 7am with regular riding groups invited to join through pre-booked slots from 10am to keep the Pass the PEDALL baton moving throughout the day. Timeslots can be booked until 7pm.
Pass the PEDALL aims to meet a fundraising target of £5,000 that will be used to support 500 new riders, cover PEDALL’s ongoing project costs, fund ride leaders, and build, maintain, and repair the charity’s cycle fleet. It also aims to create a sense of personal and team achievement, increase community awareness, and attract more volunteers and supporters.
The Pass the PEDALL event on Wednesday, 18 September has partnered with organisers behind 200-mile east to west, sunrise to sunset cycle challenges and leaders in long distance cycling events, Chase the Sun. PEDALL’s New Forest event will be a community celebration of the work done to support people’s physical and mental wellbeing in the Forest and will help fund the scheme going forward.
PEDALL has supported people with varying abilities since 2017, including those with physical or intellectual disabilities, social or mental wellbeing needs, a visible or unseen condition, or those living with a health diagnosis.
Pass the PEDALL partners also want to encourage cyclists in the New Forest to enjoy fun and responsible rides within the National Park and recommend visitors read the Forest’s cycling guide and follow the New Forest code.
PEDALL is a partnership project between New Forest National Park Authority and charity Friends of PEDALL, with support from the NHS and Forestry England. PEDALL is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and other generous supporters including South Western Railway.
PEDALL Operations Manager, Gareth Jones, said: ‘I am very proud and lucky to do this job working with such a great community, from our riders to our volunteers who give up so much of their time. For me, doing this challenge is to give something back to them because without the support of all of them we wouldn’t be able to provide such a great service.’
PEDALL Programme Board Chair and NPA Member, Patrick Heneghan, said: ‘The work done by PEDALL is vital to both the people the project engages with and their own networks of family and friends.
‘Every person who supports the Pass the PEDALL event will help to increase the charity’s reach in the National Park and further afield for those in Bournemouth, Southampton, and all of the Forest’s bordering towns and villages.’
Founder of Chase the Sun Cycle founder, Olly Moore, said: ‘PEDALL is such a brilliant charity project helping many people benefit from cycling who may not otherwise get a chance to ride.
‘Whether it’s a challenge to ride for an hour, or all day until sunset – at Chase the Sun we aim to support everyone to ‘keep on pedalling’ towards the mental and physical benefits of cycling for all.’
More information about the event can be found on PEDALL’s website. All are welcome. To join the cycle relay or to support the event, please register for an open session. Donations to Pass the PEDALL can be made online here.
Pass the PEDALL event details:
- Date – Wednesday, 18 September 2024
- Location – New Park, Brockenhurst, SO42 7QH
