Giving a little something back to the community
Grants of up to £5,000 made available from Tour O’ The Borders trust fund
ORGANISERS of Tour O’ The Borders have added another spoke to its appeal by setting up a ‘Touro Trust’.
The new fund will support community initiatives around the cycling event’s route.
Cash will come from the organisers and donations from those taking part in the celebrated closedroad sportive.
The Touro Trust aims to give something back to communities round the event, especially those inconvenienced by the road closures necessary for event cyclists’ safety.
This year’s event on September 7 is not a closed road event, with the organisers putting it on hold while Scottish Borders Council carried out a survey on attitudes towards the sportive across the region.
The resulting research showed an overwhelming majority in favour of the spectacle, and following this a date was announced for 2025, with almost 500 cyclists signing up within 24 hours.
Event director Neil Dalgleish said: “There’s huge support for this event from the communities the riders pass through.
“But we’re always aware of the inconvenience closed roads can cause and have done a great deal organisationally to help mitigate any problems.
“The Touro Trust initiative will go much further, and funding community projects will really give something back.
“All the riders love the safety and pleasure of closed road cycling and have welcomed the chance to thank those communities too.
“This safe cycling experience in such a beautiful place means a great deal to the thousands who take part.”
Community councils and local groups will be invited to suggest projects which could benefit from support, with funding of up to £5,000 for any single project being awarded annually after the event takes place.
Tour O’ The Borders currently raises money for Kidney Research UK, and has supported a number of different charities previously.
The event is organised by Peebles-based outdoor events business Hillside Outside Ltd, which also organises TweedLove Bike Festival and have used a similar funding model to support the Peeblesshire Foodbank, Tweed Valley Trails Association, Peeblesshire Youth Trust, Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue, Peebles Community Trust and others.