Nine Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers from Sunderland are among the cyclists limbering up for a 140-mile coast to coast challenge in July.
The two-day fundraising bike ride through some of England’s most scenic countryside will see around 200 people cycling from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Sunderland lifeboat station, with an overnight stop in the Pennines market town of Alston.
The event, on 17 and 18 July, is the second coast to coast challenge run by Cycle Guides. The 2009 event raised £10,000 and the organisers hope this summer’s challenge will raise even more for the 2010 chosen charity, the RNLI.
Anthony Jobling, a helmsman from Sunderland RNLI, said the lifeboat volunteers are training hard for the bike ride.
He added: ‘Not all of us are regular cyclists so the challenge will obviously be harder for some than others. We’re all looking forward to it though, and hopefully will raise lots of money for our charity.
‘I hope as many people as possible join us – any cyclists who have been thinking about doing the coast to coast ride should sign up for the event because as well as helping a great cause, they will also get support along the route and help with transport and accommodation as well as the satisfaction of completing a 140-mile ride.’
Most of the ride takes place on cycle paths, country lanes and urban streets. A £75 registration fee covers transport, baggage transfer, campsite and breakfast as well as a t-shirt and medal. At the end of the event there will be a reception at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland. For more information and to sign up for the 2010 coast to coast challenge log onto www.cycle-challenge.co.uk
Anyone wanting to sponsor the team should go to link.
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