Saddle up for Rio Paracycling challenge!

Paracycling_challenge_web_large_280_200_tl_53_c1_c_cInspired by Team GB’s success in the velodrome at Rio this summer and fancy taking on a unique cycling challenge of your own?

Inter-county tandem charity challenge

Three leading charities across the East Midlands have sparked off deep seated county rivalries by calling for local cyclists to represent Notts, Derbys or Leicestershire and sign up for a tandem race at the Derby Arena velodrome -which runs Paracycling sessions every month – to raise money for local blind and partially sighted people.
The inter-county tandem charity challenge takes place on Friday 16 September at the Derby Arena velodrome 2-5pm to celebrate the Rio Paralympics.

Ride out for Team My Sight Notts!

The Nottinghamshire team will raise money for My Sight Notts, which supports blind and partially sighted people living in the county. The charity is keen to ensure Nottinghamshire holds its head high by fielding a strong team of riders capable of beating its rival sister sight loss charities in Derbyshire and Leicestershire! My Sight Notts is seeking both visually impaired and sighted cyclists to take part and, to add an extra dimension to the challenge, sighted riders can opt to wear blindfolds for a truly unique experience of what it’s like to be a visually impaired Paracyclist!
Teams of up to four riders at least one of whom will be visually impaired; will take on the longest of the Rio 2016 Paralympics Road Race distances – 120 kilometres – around the 250 metre velodrome. Riding on the back of a tandem, with an experienced coach acting as pilot at the front, each team member will take it in turns to complete their number of laps. You can sign up to field an entire team of four or simply join up as a solo rider and we’ll add you to one of our teams riding for Notts.

Friendly rively in the spirit of the Rio Paralympics

Jonny Rudge, Community Fundraiser at My Sight Notts, said: “Being based in the great county of Nottinghamshire and raising money for blind and partially sighted children and adults who live in the county, we always welcome some healthy East Midlands rivalry from our sister sight loss charities, especially when it’s for a good cause!
“The Rio Paralympics tandem cycling challenge is shaping up to be a truly regional event, so we’re urging Nottinghamshire people to saddle up for Team My Sight Notts and show Vista in Leicestershire and Sight Support Derbyshire exactly what we’re made of!

How to sign up and take part

You don’t have to be in an existing team of four and you don’t have to have vast experience of cycling. You don’t even need to have a bike! Experience of riding a tandem is useful but not necessary. You just need to be prepared to pay an entry fee of £40 per team or £10 per person, and raise sponsorship money to benefit visually impaired people living in Notts.
Anyone who wants to ride for Team My Sight Notts should contact Fundraising on 0115 9706 806 or email events@mysightnotts.org.uk