Top pro cyclists Ian Stannard and Ben Swift will be talking about their careers at an event later this month in memory of Charlie Craig, the 15-year-old up-and-coming cyclo-cross rider who died in his sleep in January.
Stannard and his former Team Sky colleague Swift, now riding for UAE Team Emirates, will be joined at the #ChatForCharlie event in New Mills, Derbyshire by coach Rod Ellingworth, with ex-pro and now TV pundit, Rob Hayles acting as compere.
Starting at 7.15pm on Friday 24 November, the evening aims to raise money for #RideForCharlie, the trust set up by the youngster’s parents to support young, off-road cyclists.
Charlie’s father, Nick Craig, says: “Charlie left his family and friends in a state of shock and an incredible hole in our hearts.
“It’s nearly a year since Charlie left us and we miss him more every day. It would have been his 16th birthday in November.
“The #ChatForCharlie evening will be a chance to celebrate his memory and hopefully inspire the next generation and raise funds for us to be able to support up-and-coming young riders.”
> Tributes paid to rising cyclo-cross star Charlie Craig
A raffle will be held on the evening, and anyone wishing to donate a prize is asked to contact Fred Salmon at the Bike Factory in Whaley Bridge via email at fredsalmon [at] btclick.com or by phone on 07712 068 887.
Tickets cost £15 for adults and £12 for under-16s. The venue is the New Mills Art Theatre, Jodrell Street, New Mills, High Peak, SK22 3HJ, with New Mills served by direct trains from both Manchester and Sheffield.
#RideForCharlie aims to provide support to boys and girls aged 14 and over who ride off-road bikes and “who are or would have been inspired by Charlie to follow in his pedal strokes.”
You can find out more here.
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Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.