Charity: Cyclists gear up for 100-mile charity ride; Law firm supports cancer charity; Donation puts song into festival; and more

A 100-mile charity cycle ride across Wharfedale organised by law firm Gordons, Lloyds Bank and audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has seen all 120 places snapped up for the inaugural event.

The ‘Wharfedale Ton’ will take place on June 10 to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice in Bradford. The route, planned by Gordons partner and keen cyclist Phil Paget, stretches across Wharfedale from Ilkley to York and back again.

The ride aims to attract local businessmen and women to take part in a day of cycling and meet like-minded professionals, whilst raising money for a good cause at the same time.

Mr Paget, said: “We are extremely pleased by the number of entrants into the very first ‘Wharfedale Ton’. We wanted to create an event that appealed to the business community as an enjoyable activity but one that would also offer a real sense of accomplishment.

“We have riders of all levels taking part and the route has been designed as challenging but achievable for all. We know there is a great appetite for cycling in Yorkshire and the excitement that is already building around the challenge really confirms just how passionate people have become about the sport.”

Entrants are invited to ride alone, in pairs or in groups with many taking part who have never ridden the 100-mile distance before. It is expected to take an average of six to eight hours to complete the challenge, after which all participants are invited to rest their limbs and join each other for some food and drink in Ilkley.

David Jockel, representing Lloyds, Gordons’ Philip Paget, and RSM’s Steven Hubbard launch the Wharfedale Ton charity bike ride
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EMPLOYEES from Wake Smith Solicitors in Sheffield have raised £5,300 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The 200-year-old law firm chose Macmillan as its nominated good cause for the 2015-16 financial year and its charitable board worked to drive fundraising and organise numerous events throughout the calendar.
 
The cash collected will go towards Macmillan Cancer Support’s work with the NHS in Sheffield to help improve cancer care services especially focussing on breast, bowel and prostate cancer. The charity is investing £6mover the next five years to make this happen.
 
Holly Dobson, chair of the charitable board at Wake Smith, said: “We didn’t set a formal target, and concentrated on more of a friendly, sociable approach to fundraising.
 
“We looked at events and sales ideas that would inspire and attract the biggest donations and to raise £5307.81 is a fantastic achievement. Thank you to everyone who donated throughout the year. We smashed last year’s total by more than £1,000. To learn about how our funds will be used to the best possible means locally is the most rewarding bit.”

The charitable board is made up of Kate Lax, Louise Rudkin, Lorraine Slack, Lisa Wilson, Bridie Mulgrew, Tom Weightman, Alison Gaddes, Hayley Naisbett and Holly Dobson.

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GRASSINGTON FESTIVAL has been given a £2,000 choral boost.

The donation has come from the Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation and will be used to help set up an intergenerational festival choir.

Over the last 36 years Grassington Festival, which this year runs from June 17, has grown to become one of Yorkshire’s premiere art and music festivals. It offers an eclectic daily programme of music, comedy and cultural events.

Highlights from recent years include Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals) supported by Heaven 17, Billy Ocean, Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, The Orchestra (starring former members of ELO), The Boomtown Rats, Julian Lloyd Webber, Hayley Westenra, Alfie Boe and Lesley Garrett; and from the world of comedy; Al Murray, Jo Brand, Jack Dee and Dara O’Briain.

Grassington Festival is also proud of its work in the community, providing collaborative projects that provide opportunities for local schools, care homes and community groups to get involved in the festival, and create anything from art installations to music concerts.

In addition to income from ticket sales and national and local funding partners, the festival is also heavily reliant upon the help and support from its army of volunteers, and the ongoing generosity of its friends and sponsors.

Kate Beard, festival director, said: “We would like to thank Skipton Charitiable Foundation for the kind donation. Grassington Festival has been providing a lively and enriching cultural experience to residents and visitors for 35 years with its combination of performances, visual arts and live music and we’re looking forward to this year’s programme of events.”

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A GROUP of 12 employees from Leeds-based digital company twentysix are looking forward to tackling Yorkshire’s three highest peaks for national charity Heart Research UK.

Individuals from different departments including design, analytics and campaigns have joined together to form a team to tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks – part of the charity’s new Day in the Dales event on 18 June.

twentysix is asking people to support them in their challenge of completing the 25-mile Yorkshire Dales route in under 10 hours and help raise a minimum of £500 for the charity.

Sophie Marsden, campaign executive at twentysix, said: “Heart Research UK is a great local-based charity that is really creative with its fundraising. We wanted to support them in particular because heart disease affects so many people’s lives.”

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BRADFORD charity One in a Million was the big winner of Packett’s Tour de Dales charity bike right, with more than £15,000 raised for the organisation.

It was Packett’s 95th anniversary in partnership with the charity bike ride, in which 29 riders from 20 local companies clocked up 4,000 miles on Yorkshire’s roads.

The two stage course took the riders from Packett’s Saltaire headquarters to T and R Theakston’s world famous brewery in Masham on Saturday – an 88 mile trip.

Over the course of the weekend the riders collectively covered in excess of 4,000 miles, including 3,500 feet of climbing. Packett’s managing director Marshall Sugden and former Bradford City footballer, Wayne Jacobs, now head of the ‘One in a Million’ charity were involved as well.

Marshall Sugden said: “”We created the ‘Tour De Dales’ event to achieve a couple of things. First and foremost, to celebrate Packetts’ 95th anniversary. At the same time, as a Bradford-based business, we wanted to raise both money and awareness for local charity ‘One in a Million’. The event was really well supported, with 29 riders from a variety of local businesses. We had two great days in the saddle; the May sunshine showing Yorkshire at its best. It’s been a great success and one we may well look to repeat in future years.”