The sun shone as hundreds of riders across the country pedaled their hardest to help prostate cancer patients and their families in this year’s Rotary Ride.
An estimated £10,000 for research, care and support have been raised for national and local prostate cancer charities and the money is still rolling in.
Across the country, Rotary members and the public saddled up for quick sprints on exercise bikes, easy cycle routes in the countryside or challenging long-distances.
National Co-ordinator, Keith Hopkins, said Rotary Ride’s success is thanks to its wide-ranging appeal: “Rotary Ride really does fit all.
“You can cycle for miles and stay in your home town by using static bikes or take in the scenic beauty of nature reserves or historic estates with real bikes.
“It’s a great opportunity to get out and about to help a worthy cause and there have been some very clever ideas by Rotary clubs.
“My own club of Kirriemuir went the extra mile, literally, by hosting a Rotary Ride and a 10K fun run around Glamis Castle in Angus.
It’s a great opportunity to get out and about to help a worthy cause.”
“100 riders and 30 runners took up the challenge and have so far raised over £1,000.
“It is highly likely we know someone affected by prostate cancer, perhaps a patient or a carer.
“With Rotary Ride we go beyond giving our emotional support, we help to further research which will help diagnose prostate cancer more quickly.”
The charities being supported are Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Scotland, Prostate Cymru and The Irish Cancer Society. Clubs also supported local prostate cancer charities of their choice.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with 47,000 men diagnosed with the disease every year across the UK. That is 129 every day, making the awareness raising and donations from the Rotary Ride very important.
Tain and Easter Ross Rotary held a static ride at a hugely popular vintage car rally and attracted a lot of attention with the idea of trying to cycle round the world-famous North Coast 500 route.
Photos from today's #RotaryRide for #prostatescotland thx to all who participated and donated 😎 #gloriousday @prostatescot @WestFifeRotary @rotarydc pic.twitter.com/8kBmTWfrpZ
— Carnegie Dunfermline Rotary (@rotarydc) July 1, 2018
Will Porter, organiser and member: “We thought if we could get visitors to the rally to sponsor us a pound a mile we might just have £500 for Prostate Scotland in our collection bucket by the end of the day and perhaps have the change to raise awareness of prostate issues.
“As it was, we were overwhelmed by visitors wanting not just to sponsor us but to get on the bikes themselves.
“By the end of the rally we’d had so many good conversations with men and not only that, we had more than £1,400 in our bucket! We couldn’t believe it!”
Plans are underway for Rotary Ride 2019. Please visit the Rotary Ride page for more information.
Registration will open in October but in the meantime please talk to your club about organising an event. Find your local club by popping your details into our Club Finder.
