Great Weston Ride joins forces with Prostate Cancer charity

The Prostate Cancer Charity is to become the official charity partner of the Great Weston Ride.

Described by its organisers as a recreational challenge ride and taking place on Sunday July 17, the ride starts in Bristol and offers participants a spectacular West Country route through the Mendips and across the Somerset Levels before finishing by the coast in Weston-super-Mare.

The first event last year sold out in advance and entries for the 2011 Ride are already well on their way to surpassing last year’s numbers.

The Great Weston Ride hopes to become one of the UK's favourite mass-participation challenge rides and is designed to cater for riders of all abilities and levels of experience.

The event will support The Prostate Cancer Charity over the next three years, encouraging as many riders as possible to raise vital funds for the cause as they take on the challenge of completing the Ride.

The Prostate Cancer Charity's Fundraising Manager, Katie Robbins, said: "We are thrilled to be partnering the Great Weston Ride for the next three years and we’re really looking forward to sharing in the growth and development of this spectacular challenge ride.”

“The Charity's passion for cycling has grown through our partnership with The Tour of Britain and we are keen to build on these foundations and branch out even further into the sport.”

Ride Organiser, Darren McKimm, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome The Prostate Cancer Charity on board as the Great Weston Ride’s official charity partner for the next three years. It’s a very worthy cause, and one that we all should be more aware of, and we’d like to do our bit to help drive awareness and support for the charity.

The Ride is already open for entry but, as in 2010, there will be a limit on the number of riders taking part and entry sooner rather than later is highly recommended. Further information, and details on how to enter, can be found at www.greatwestonride.com.

The Great Weston Ride's Director, Andy Cook, meanwhile, has just been announced as President of the UCI's Cycling for All initiative.

President of the UCI, Mr Patrick McQuaid said “We are very pleased that Andy Cook has decided to join us at the UCI and we look forward to using his experience and expertise in progressing our ‘Cycling for All programme”.