One of British Cycling’s dedicated Breeze champions has won the 2016 BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero award for Scotland.
Rachael Halifax, from East Kilbride, and the 14 other UK regional winners – including Middlesbrough-based cycling volunteer Steve Binks - will now go into the running for the overall Unsung Hero award, which will be announced as part of the BBC’s annual Sports Personality of the Year programme on December 18.
The award celebrates people from around the country who volunteer their time and effort to help people participate in sport. The 43 year-old was nominated after devoting hours of her free time to volunteer at cycling groups in Glasgow.
At Free Wheel North, which is based at Glasgow Green Cycling Centre, Rachael helps people with disabilities cycle using specially adapted bikes, teaches children and adults of all ages how to ride and helps to organise Breeze activities. The number of women cyclists taking part in Breeze rides from Free Wheel North has risen from two or three in the early days to around 30 on a recent ride, with some participants themselves undertaking training as a Breeze champion.
Rachael also coaches at the Glasgow Riderz youth and junior cycling club (a British Cycling Go-Ride Club), helping 9 to 11 year-olds to work on their core skills and bike handling techniques at the club’s weekly sessions on a Saturday morning.
Rachael said: “Cycling is my passion - it has given me so many opportunities and I know it can do the same for others. I thought it would be great to give back and started looking into how and where I could volunteer.
“I get a lot out of volunteering as I get to share my love of all things cycling. Bikes make me smile and I love to see bikes having the same effect on others. An added bonus is that I get to ride bikes a lot and have an incredible amount of fun along the way.
“Getting involved with cycling clubs and volunteering is fantastic! Seeing people develop confidence and skills in their cycling ability is amazing. You will be rewarded with hours of fun, laughter and loads and loads of smiles.”
Carol Thompson, project co-ordinator at Free Wheel North, who nominated Rachael for the award, said:
"Rachael's passion for cycling is infectious. She has inspired participants in all the groups that she volunteers in - kids, adults, ladies, people with disabilities, people who thought they wouldn’t be able to ride a bike. Without Rachael volunteering there would be less people out on their bikes, less people enjoying the outdoors, cycling with their families, cycling for recreation or commuting."
