Location: Pepenbury, Cornford Lane, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Event: 16 September 2012
In the Olympic year, a charity that has been encouraging people with learning disabilities to lead challenging and active lives has decided to inaugurate what it hopes will be an annual cycling sportive that will encourage people with disabilities to be involved and raise much needed funds.
For more than 80 years local charity Pepenbury has been working with adults with learning disabilities. In addition to the successful day activities like art, pottery, gardening and training for life courses that they run, they also organise sailing, horse riding, swimming and canoeing trips, and twice in the last three years two riders with learning disabilities have cycled from London to Paris as well.
The Pepenbury 100 Sportive takes place on Sunday 16 September and the longer ride of 100km will take cyclists from Pembury to Rye and back again, with hills that can either be taken at speed, or walked for the slightly less keen and through countryside second to none in the area. Another route of 35km is less testing, but again it depends how each person chooses to view the ride. As riders would expect, marshals will on duty throughout the route and there will be the usual feeding stations en route. Not just that – Pepenbury will have BBQs at the finish catering for all who want to buy something while they cool down.
A locally known rider – Anna Hewlett of Velos Cycle Club – is working to help make the day go well and there is also support from local councillor Paul Barrington-King.
At only £15 for an advance booking and £20 on the day, the sportive is not only good value, but an opportunity to support a longstanding local charity for people whose disability is one of the most limiting of all.
Fancy getting involved but don’t particularly want to ride? The organisers are looking for more volunteer marshals and general volunteers. If you would like more information email pepenbury100@gmail.com or telephone Roy Brazier on 07557 336567.
Entry is available online though the British Cycling calendar.
