Volunteers of all ages are gearing up to pedal for their parish at this year’s Ride+Stride event. The annual national fundraising day, organised locally by Dorset Historic Churches Trust (DHCT), invites participants to cycle, walk and even ride a horse to Dorset’s churches and chapels on Saturday 12 September between 10am-6pm.
There is no official route and participants seek sponsorship to visit as many as they feel able or indeed for taking part. Riders and striders will be raising money for the maintenance and repair of Dorset’s historic churches, with all sponsorship split between DHCT and their nominated church. Dorset is filled with spectacular church heritage and the event presents an opportunity to explore the history and architecture of churches, some of which are not regularly open.
Over 300 churches across towns and villages will be open throughout the day, providing refreshments and a well-earned rest for hard working riders and striders, alongside the opportunity to admire the history and heritage of these churches. Chairman of Dorset Historic Churches Trust, Simon Pomeroy, said: “The annual Ride+Stride event is a great way for all the family to explore some of our wonderful local churches either on foot, by bicycle, wheelchair or on horseback whilst raising funds to support their local church and the important work that DHCT does across the County. We are very much looking forward to this year’s event and hope to see many people out and about enjoying the Dorset countryside on Saturday 12 September.”
Experienced riders will plot their route to keep well off the busy main roads and all participants will be able use the Ride+Stride page of the Trust’s website(www.dhct.org.uk) to check the map locations of every church – even downloading them to their Smartphone or tablet. Last year’s event raised a record £81,000 in sponsorship, with 197 parish communities taking part in the fundraising event. The Trust is hoping that riders and striders from even more communities will take part this year, gathering pledges on the traditional paper forms or through Just Giving on the Trust’s website. 50% of the funds raised are returned to the parish chosen by the rider. There is keen competition to gain the most sponsorship. The Trustees award the Morshead Trophy to the parish which they consider to be the most deserving. In 2014, St Osmund, Evershot topped the list with £2,800 for their cyclist Richard Campbell. Since 1991, the Trust has raised over £950,000 from the Ride+Stride event, formerly known as the Great Cycle Ride.
The money raised is the main source of income for the Trust, which helped 27 churches in need of repair and renovation in 2014, by awarding grant-aid totalling £97,000. For more information about the Ride and Stride, please contact Anna Butler (Ride+Stride Coordinator) Tel. 01305 260004 or email: [email protected] or visit the DHCT website www.dhct.org.uk
