New distance added to annual cycling and walking challenge

The organisers of an annual cycling and walking challenge, which raises cash for Derby Kids’ Camp and Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, have added a brand-new distance to help encourage more people to sign up.

The Cosy Foundation is introducing a 13-mile “Hamble” – a hike-amble – to this year’s Cosy Bike and Hike event which will set out from Derby Arena, on Pride Park, on 16 May.

The event involved hundreds of people last year, raising thousands of pounds for the two charities, which both provide holidays for hundreds of children from underprivileged homes.

Previously consisting of a sponsored 100-mile cycle ride to the holiday centre in Skegness, the event made history last year by offering an alternative activity, in the form of a 20-mile hike from Derby to Ashbourne.

The hike proved to be an instant success, boosting the number of people taking part last year to around 200 and helping last year’s event raise more than £90,000 overall.

Both the 100-mile ride and the 20-mile hike will return once again this year, accompanied by the Hamble, which will follow the same route as the 20-mile route but will finish at Longford for those walkers who want to do their bit but feel the longer walk is beyond them.

The money will once again be divided between both good causes, with the Derby Kids Camp money being earmarked to help fund a new barn, which will provide secure storage and upgraded utilities to support the camp, which takes place near Ashbourne every summer.

The barn is due to be completed next summer – with the names of everyone taking park in this year’s Cosy Bike and Hike event engraved into the wall as a thank you for helping to raise the money.

David Hook, managing director at Cosy Direct, said: “The Cosy Bike and Hike is getting bigger every year and last year was a huge success, with more participants taking part than ever before.

“The hike in particular worked tremendously well, but since a 20-mile walk is a significant undertaking and we’ve had so much interest from people wanting to take part, we’ve added a shorter distance, the Hamble, to make the event more accessible.

“We’re very excited about this year’s event and we’ve already had plenty of people signing up and starting their training regimes for the big day.

“The money raised by this event has made a huge difference to the lives of hundreds of children and I’d urge anybody who fancies taking on a challenge in aid of such two worthy good causes to put their name down.”

Volunteers are also being invited to sign up, while the Cosy Foundation is also looking to increase the number of businesses involved in this year’s event, with a new range of sponsorship packages and team places available to firms wanting to make their contribution.

Those who choose to cycle will also be able to do so in the company of Guinness World Record-holding cyclist Leigh Timmis, who is the event’s patron.

He said: “It doesn’t matter how experienced a cyclist you are, completing a 100-mile ride in a day is a huge achievement and it’s been a wonderful privilege to witness the pride and satisfaction the riders feel when they finally reach the holiday centre.

“This will be the third year I’ve taken part and I’m looking forward to seeing the mix of regulars and new faces.”

To find out more and to sign up, click here.