A local charity is encouraging its community to take part in an all-abilities cycle challenge to raise money for end-of-life care in the heart of Devon.
After its success last year, Hospiscare’s Tour de Devon cycling event returns bigger and better this September and is open to cyclists of all ages and abilities.
As the local hospice charity for Exeter, Mid and East Devon, Hospiscare cares for over 2,000 patients and their families every year. The charity relies on the support of the local community to ensure its specialist end-of-life care is available at no cost to patients and their families. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a drastic impact on the charity’s fundraising due to the repeated closure of its charity shops and cancellation of fundraising events, leaving Hospiscare facing a funding deficit of £1.5 million.
Hospiscare is challenging local people to choose their distance – 50, 100, 250 or, new for this year, 400 miles – and cycle throughout September to reach their goal.
From turning the school run into a school cycle to clocking up the miles on a static bike in front of the telly, everyone who takes part in Tour de Devon will receive a ‘thank you’ certificate and zero waste medal.
Each participant’s pedal power and every pound raised will make a huge difference to local people facing terminal illness and the charity is asking its cyclists to aim to raise £60 in sponsorship. Challengers who zoom past their fundraising targets and raise £300 or more will be awarded a special Hospiscare cycling jersey.
Hospiscare events fundraiser Martin Stokke says: “We are so excited to launch our Tour de Devon cycle challenge for 2021. This year’s event will benefit from the sponsorship of Crediton-based business, Ernest Jackson, and we are so grateful for the support of a local business whose roots in our community go back over 200 years.
“This September, Tour de Devon presents a new challenge distance of 400 miles and we are excited to see our cyclists take this on. With 30 days to complete their chosen mileage, we know that our supporters will challenge themselves to go the distance to support end-of-life care in the heart of Devon.”
Sign up today to make a difference to the lives of Hospiscare’s patients and their families. Visit www.hospiscare.co.uk/cycle.