Charity cycle ride for healthier lives next month

Local people from across south Leeds are next month (Sunday 23 September 2018) undertaking a charity cycle ride from Hunslet to Castleford – and everyone’s welcome!

Biking for better wellbeing

The ride will set off from Hunslet Library in the morning, follow the canal and River Aire towpaths along to the Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve just outside Castleford, then return to Hunslet in the afternoon. The route is about 11 miles each way.

All ages are welcome, although under 18s must be accompanied. It’s free to join, but numbers are limited, and pre-registration is essential: click here to do so.

And participants are asked to raise money for mental health charity, Leeds Mind. All donations are gladly received – and can be made online here.

Julie Smith lives in Hunslet, and came up with the idea:

“Like many people, I’ve been through tough times, when I felt alone, when I self-harmed, when I didn’t want to be here. And too many people are taking their own lives. As well as raising money for a great charity, I hope that this will bring different people together, for a fun friendly day. That will hopefully send out a message that people don’t need to be alone, they don’t have to do it all on their own. Both on the day, and in the rest of life, we all need to talk, and open up on how we are feeling.”

Further event details here on FB, or via the online registration page. Or contact event coordinators Julie Smith on 07593 581 886, or Ed Carlisle on 07738 921 277. To donate, click here.

The event will be stewarded, and the volunteer event team will offer all the support they can (including bike fixing, and a back-up vehicle) – but participants will remain responsible for themselves, their bikes, and any under 18s in their care throughout the event. To find out more about joining the stewarding team, get in touch.