Sign up for the Ride for Hope and smash another record

Cyclists are being urged to sign up for a 2017 charity bike ride, in the week it was announced the 2016 event had smashed its fundraising record.

The 2016 Ride For Hope, an annual cycle ride from the University of Northampton to Ypres in Belgium, raised just under £25,000 for the Hope Centre homelessness charity – around £10,000 more than in 2015.

Senior Lecturer at the University, Adrian Pryce, who is also chairman of the Hope Centre, said: “I am delighted to be able to reveal that between the 28 riders who went on this year’s ride, we managed to raise more money than we’ve ever raised before.

“Now, with entries open for next year’s Ride for Hope, I am hoping even more people will sign up and help us to smash our record once again.”

Next year’s ride, which will be the fourth, will feature a shorter route of 225 miles, taking in London and Dover en-route to Ypres. The event, which is organised by Pidy UK Limited, will take place from 6-9 July.

The Hope Centre aims to help people who have fallen on hard times and need extensive support and encouragement to rebuild their lives. More than 100 people every day are cared for in the Hope Centre day centre, in Campbell Street. The Hope Centre relies on the support and generosity of the local community – individuals, schools, churches/faith groups, sports, social clubs and local businesses, to keep providing the range of services it offers to people in need – and whose number are growing.

In November 2015, the University’s Vice Chancellor, Nick Petford, became a patron of the charity.

For more information about the 2017 Ride for Hope, and to register your interest in taking part, email rwhittle@pidy.com.