At 6am on Saturday 31st May, 56 cyclists set off from the Clock Tower in Leicester to raise funds for LOROS. A light breeze and a dusting of fluffy white clouds, was the perfect weather to accompany the fundraisers on their 96 mile trip to the clock tower in good old "Skeggy".
Back in January, Phil Burton, the Operations Manager at BHS Fosse Park convinced Mitchell Allen and Joe Burrows to take part in the Challenge.
He said, "We had never done anything like this before but we all loved it. After all the training the big day soon arrived and it was fantastic. We loved the community spirit, and Joe was the star surprise finishing in 5.5 hours with Mitchell and myself little way behind, arriving at Skegness at 1 o'clock.
“The whole event was superb, we had great support from our store team at BHS Fosse Park, our friends and family and we will have raised around £1500 for LOROS. We will be back next year to do it all again, but because we obviously haven't been through enough, we will see you all at Rutland Water for One Big Bike Ride, and at Cropston for the LOROS Walk on the Wildside in September”.
Lorraine Mitchell, with friend Beth and their trainer Aiden also cycled together along with Robert & Dean.
She said, “It was an amazing challenge, and perfect weather for the "Leicester to Skegness", bike ride in aid of LOROS.
"With Aiden setting our pace (who I thought would have wanted to leave us to be with the front riders) we managed to do the route in 6 hours and 29 minutes cycling time. However, with our 20 minutes of breaks (including me coming off my bike twice!!) the total time was 7 hours and 12 minutes. Robert and Dean did it in just 6 hours.
"I'd like to thank the LOROS support team, and all the ladies and gents that helped a wobbly cyclist along the way (especially the lady who gave us a can of Red Bull ?). And I mustn't forget all our family and friends who cheered us in at Skegness Clock Tower - thank you for sponsoring us too!”
Debbie Dickman, one of the LOROS fundraising team said, "Every year committed riders endure the long and I'm sure, arduous trip from Leicester to Skegness, to raise much needed funds for our hospice and the volunteer staff that support the event are also invaluable. I would like to thank them all for their continued support to this event and to LOROS. The sponsorship raised will help us to provide care and support to our patients, their families and carers from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland."
The placings and timings of all of our cyclists can be viewed/downloaded here.
The Leicester to Skegness Bike Ride will take place again in 2015 on a date still to be confirmed. If you would like to do it all again, or try it for the first time, please email debbiedickman@loros.co.uk to register your interest. We'd be delighted to welcome you on board, and proud to support you.
