Norfolk: Leonard Chesire Disability’s Cycle Event will raise funds for a great cause
Ride at Norfolk’s Sandringham Estate will provide a family day out and will raise funds for a great cause
A Leonard Chesire Disability’s Cycle Event will be held in June to raise money for Park House in Sandringham – From left, Stephen Booth with EDP Reporter Kate Scotter and Phil Davies. Picture: Matthew Usher
Kate Scotter kate.scotter@archant.co.uk Friday, May 24, 2013
3:37 PM
Cycle Together Sandringham will take place on Sunday, June 23 to raise money for respite hotel Park House Hotel.
Organised by national disability charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, the event will see hundreds of cyclists take to the picturesque roads around north-west Norfolk, taking in recognisable landmarks including Sandringham Estate, Holkham and Houghton Halls and Bircham Windmill.
There is a choice of distances, from the family-friendly 10 and 20- mile routes to the 50 and 90-mile courses for cyclists looking for more of a challenge.
Funds raised will go to Park House Hotel, a Victorian country house where disabled guests and their carers or companions can have a holiday or period of respite together.
Phil Davies, who has volunteered at Park House for five years, said: “It’s absolutely unique, there is nowhere else in the country that offers the facilities and the degree of comfort for people who are as severely disabled as the majority of those who come here to Park House.
“Once they are here, we try to make it as much of a holiday for them as it would be for us; there’s entertainment, the evening meal is restaurant quality, there are days out.
“For whatever reason, through accident or illness, people who come here are probably stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives or are living with a degenerative disease and they deserve a holiday as much as anyone else and they deserve a good one.”
All three rides will set off from Park House, the birthplace of Diana, Princess of Wales, on the Sandringham Estate and head north. The 50 and 90-mile routes will go across towards Hunstanton before skirting along the north Norfolk coast towards Burnham Market and Wells. The 50-milers will turn inland while the 90- milers will do a loop around Blakeney, Holt and Thursford.
Heading back towards Sandringham Estate, all rides will go past Anmer Hall, soon to be the country retreat of William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the last mile is downhill
All routes will include feed stops and will be timed.
Mr Davies, who first started to volunteer at Park House after his father was left paralysed from the chest down following a car accident, said: “The 10 and 20-mile routes are very family-friendly, even if you haven’t cycled very much. You’ll be part of an occasion, there will be lots of people about and there will be a good buzz and atmosphere on the day.
“The routes are pleasant and well marked and you don’t have to worry about anything if the bike breaks down as there will be mechanical support.
“You will get a great buzz when you finish and there will be a goody bag and certificate for everyone who takes part.”
Entry costs £15 for the 10/20- mile routes or £20 for the 50/90- mile routes. Under-16s accompanied by adults can ride for free.
The entry includes a donation to Leonard Cheshire Disability which will go to Park House Hotel.
To enter, go to www.lcdisability.org/cycletogether.Everyone who enters by Friday, May 31 has the chance to win an LED cycle helmet, worth £29.99, kindly donated by Transport Electric UK, the electric bike shop in Gorleston. All entries received by May 31 will go into a draw, with four adult and four children’s winners.
