Event: 2 June 2013
British Cycling will be getting behind a very worthy cause in June 2013, supporting Help for Heroes’ Hero Ride.
Taking place on 2 June, with the main event being held in a flagship event in London, there are also a number of locations where people can ride to support the charity. These include: Anglesey, Banbury, Bath, Birmingham, Blackpool, Cambridge, Cardiff, Catterick, Dartford, Epsom, Hertford, Gloucester, Ipswich, Melton Mowbray, Newbury, Oxford, Worcester, Plymouth, Salisbury, Sutton, Uttoxeter, Tidworth, Uxbridge, Windsor, Rome and Paris.
The ride is being supported by British Cycling’s Paralympian Jon-Allan Butterworth who won three silver medals at London 2012. Jon-Allan joined the RAF in 2002 and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was while on tour in Iraq that he was injured in a rocket attack, with doctors having to amputate his arm from above the left elbow.
After taking part in the very first Help For Heroes Ride and being inspired by the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Jon-Allen attended a Paralympic Talent Identification day and has never looked back, culminating in his remarkable success at London last year.
Commenting on Hero Ride, Jon-Allan Butterworth said:
“The Hero Ride is a fantastic opportunity to raise much needed funds for an extremely worthy cause. I took part in the very first event in 2008 and it was partly what inspired me to get into cycling. If we can raise some money and maybe inspire more people to get on bikes and enjoy all that cycling has to offer then it will be a great success.”
People can enter the rides either as an individual or as part of a team. Under 18s will need permission from a parent or guardian, and Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult throughout the ride. People are encouraged to organise their own rides before coming together at Blackheath for the final ten miles into central London which will be led by over 100 wounded servicemen, service women and veterans.
Alternatively, if people want to take on more of a challenge Help for Heroes is organising the ‘Dawn Raid’sportive. ‘Dawn Raid’ sets off between 2am and 3am on 2 June and aims to reach Blackheath between 10-11am to coincide with the main Hero Ride into central London.
Dawn Raid and Hero Ride participants will benefit from expert advice and tips from British Cycling’s Insight Zone. The advice, as supplied by the UK’s top coachs is designed to improve riding ability and offer essential nutritional advice to ensure people are riding in the best possible physical condition.
Since being launched in October 2007, Help for Heroes has raised over £156 million. All funds raised are allocated or spent on the direct practical support of servicemen and women who are wounded, injured or become sick while serving their country.
Both Jon-Allan Butterworth and fellow Paralympic medallist Helen Scott are participating in the ride, raising money and awareness for Help for Heroes. Their sponsorship page can be found at the following link: http://www.justgiving.com/helenandjonsherocyclechallenge
For more information on the ride and the work of Help for Heroes visit their website: http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/
