Bike sale and maintenance event for charity
Bike fundraiser and a static-cycle challenge this weekend
A BIKE sale and maintenance workshop is being held on Saturday at Hinckley RFC to help raise money for charity.
The event, which runs from 10am until 4pm, is being supported by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
With the demand for bikes through the roof during lockdown, people have been keen to get older bikes repaired and back on the road.
Step forward Steve Daly who saw his work dry up considerably when lockdown began so he was left with a lot of time on his hands. Being a practical person who has always enjoyed cycling and fixing bikes, he decided to offer bike services in the local area in return for donations to his daughter Jess’ fundraising page.
Jess, 28, had planned to run the Virgin Money London Marathon in April in aid of Cure Leukaemia before the pandemic struck. She is a member of
Hinckley Running Club but had never run a marathon before.
She was inspired to take on the 26.2mile challenge in support of her teenage neighbour who is battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Jess said: “Dad posted on the village Facebook page and the response was incredible. People from all over the area were bringing their family’s bikes for service so they could go out for bike rides in the fantastic weather we had recently.
“Then he asked people if they had spare or unused bikes that could be donated for him to refurbish and sell on and, once again, we could not believe the response! Since mid-May we have had over 70 bikes donated and we have sold more than 150 in return for donations.”
To support their ongoing fundraising the borough council is supporting a Bike Sale and Maintenance Workshop, following all appropriate Covid19 and social distancing guidelines, on Saturday 8 August.
Steve and his team will be at Hinckley Rugby Club on Leicester Road offering bike basic maintenance services and a range of refurbished bikes for sale with all proceeds going to Cure Leukaemia.
This ties in with another great initiative as the rugby club are embarking on a crowdfunding campaign to ensure the club is in its best possible state when members are able to return to playing.
With the door to team sports still closed, 60 members of the rugby club over the weekend (7 August – 9 August) are taking to static bikes to ride 1264 miles in 48 hours. Named the ‘The Big Hornet Cycle Ride,’ it is the distance between all the clubs the Hinckley Hornets 1st XV will be playing in in their new league when the season begins.
As a result of Steve, Jessica and Max’s amazing efforts in raising over £17,000, Cure Leukaemia have offered them places on their 500km, closedroad London to Paris bike ride which is planned to take place 24-28 September.
Commenting on the event Executive Lead for Leisure, Councillor Keith Nichols said: “From the doom and gloom of the pandemic it is so gratifying to learn about what people are doing to continue to raise funds for good causes and the innovative ways they are doing this. Cycling has always been popular but it is definitely seen a resurgence over the past few months.
“So in support of these two causes and your health can I suggest you get your bike out of the shed if its too small, come and donate it and pick up a replacement of the right size all proceeds to Cure Leukaemia. Or if it just needs some attention get Steve and the team to take a look.”
To sponsor Jess go to: www.justgiv ing.com/runjessicadaly to sponsor the volunteers riding ‘The Big Hornet Cycle Ride’ go to: www.crowdfunder. co.uk/hinckley-rfc-community-facili ties-development