Riders sign up for holiday centre bike challenge

Organisers of an annual 100-mile charity bike ride challenge, which raises cash for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, has seen a flurry of registrations for the event.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the SkegVegas 100 sees riders cycle 100 miles to Skegness, on the Lincolnshire coast, where the charity’s holiday centre is based.

The centre provides five-day seaside stays for youngsters who would not otherwise get a break, due to financial hardship or other tough situations, such as caring for a relative.

It relies on donations and fund-raising events, such as the SkegVegas 100, which is due to take place on 13 May.

According to organisers, 60 cyclists have already signed up to take part.

Terry Willis, who organises the SkegVegas100 every year with his son Aaron, said: “We’ve had 60 registered riders already. Last year we had 39 in total, and the most we’ve ever had is 77.

“Nearly every day I’m getting somebody saying they want to do the ride. It has been such a success.”

Riders are asked to contribute a minimum of £100 in sponsorship to take part which means that £6,000 will already have been pledged months ahead of the ride on May 13 – enough to pay for 13 children to enjoy a week by the sea.

One rider who is taking part is Nathan Monk, who works in the parts department of Pentagon Vauxhall in Derby – a business which has also adopted the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre as its charity of the year.

Nathan, who has taken part in every SkegVegas100 ride so far, said: “I started doing it through the love of cycling.

“Someone I knew asked me if I wanted to do the Skegness ride for the charity and it snowballed from there. At the time it was the longest I’d ridden – and it was a challenge!”

To support SkegVegas100 with a donation or to find out how to take part visit here.