Northampton Hope Centre moves its ‘Ride for Hope 2021’ fundraiser to English countryside amid international travel fears

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Instead of visiting Holland, fundraisers will take on a three-day challenge on cycle paths and coastal routes in England

A huge fundraising event for a Northampton homelessness charity which is usually held abroad has been moved to the English countryside.

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‘Ride for Hope’ is in its seventh year and is one of Northampton Hope Centre’s biggest annual fundraisers, which allows the charity to continue supporting those sleeping rough.

The event usually sees cyclists taking on a lengthy challenge, riding a countryside route from Northampton to a European country or around a different country.

The Ride for Hope will take place in England this year. (File picture from previous year).The Ride for Hope will take place in England this year. (File picture from previous year).
The Ride for Hope will take place in England this year. (File picture from previous year).

However, due to the pandemic, the 2020 challenge, which was a three-day route around Holland had to be postponed and was replaced by a one-day event in Northampton in September.

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The Holland event was supposed to go ahead this year, but with international travel restrictions likely to still be in place, the fundraiser has been changed and will now consist of cyclists travelling from the University of Northampton to Norfolk on a route that is hoped will 'replicate the Holland route'.

Ride for Hope committee chairman, Robert Whittle, said: “The safety of its service users,

supporters, volunteers and staff are at the forefront of everything that Hope does, so to continue with a cycle ride to Holland this year would have felt too irresponsible.

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“However, we are delighted to announce plans for our Norfolk ride, which will take in some of the most beautiful countryside this country has to offer.

“We picked this route in an attempt to replicate what the Holland ride would have been like – in terms of sights and terrain – but in the UK.

“Over the three days our cyclists are going to ride hard but also have fun and laughs along the way….there’s a reason why we have lots of riders and join us year after year.”

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The new ride takes place from September 10 to September 12 and will see fundraisers cycle though Cambridgeshire and Norfolk’s countryside, as well as the country’s cycle routes and some of Norfolk’s coastal paths and historic towns.

The three-day event will cost £250 per person or £225 on a shared room basis and the minimum sponsorship target for the ride is £300 with all the money going to help those who are living in poverty, including those who are homeless, in Northampton.

If the lengthy challenge is not for you, The Hope Centre is also hosting a one day family cycle ride at Salcey Forest on June 13, where you can take on a five, 20 or 40 mile ride for £5 per person.

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For more information about either event and to find an application form, visit The Hope Centre website.

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