Rotary fundraiser has “fantastic turnout”

HUNDREDS of late entries helped boost the number of participants in last Sunday’s 17th St Albans Charity Cycle Ride.

Karen Mullinex, from the Rotary Club of St Albans Priory, said there was a “fantastic turnout” with about 1,300 riders taking part in the fundraiser organised by three Rotary clubs in St Albans.

There were twice as many late entrants, prompted by fine weather on the day, as in previous years, with 450 cyclists turning up on the day of the event.

Cyclists could choose to bike along various local country lanes for 10, 20, 30 or 40 miles, with the event starting and ending at Oaklands College, Hatfield Road.

One cyclist was dressed as Spiderman, accompanied by his sons who were also in superhero costumes. Others rode unusual vehicles, including something you would normally see used for cross-training in gyms - an elliptical cycle, and for the more acrobatic, a unicycle.

Brian Ellis, the husband of a local Rotarian, brought a tandem bicycle on which he transported a Special Olympics girl who would not have been able to take part otherwise.

Karen said: “She was so excited, she was over the moon and had a brilliant time. It was fantastic that so many people made the effort on the day to come along and everyone seemed to enjoy the occasion. It went very smoothly.

“The weather was perfect, not too warm, but it was apparently a bit windy on the bigger hills.”

Organisers are collating information about the total funds raised, including which cyclists were sponsored the most money. This year cyclists raised funds for Grove House, St Albans Special Olympics, The Alzheimer’s Society, ReachOut Plus, the Brain Tumour Trust and Salt of the Earth.

An awards night, presented by John Bromley, new district governor for Rotary district 1260, which includes St Albans and Harpenden, will be held at St Albans council chambers on Wednesday July 13.