Sailing away from The Mermaid

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Last week Rye News reported on the “The Great Tour”, but just missed catching the cyclists racing through town, so here is their account of sailing through Rye.

A round Britain awareness and fundraising cycle ride completed its Sussex leg last week, spending two days in the county as it headed along the south coast from Southampton to Broadstairs covering 426 kilometres of cycling.

The event began from Ryde on the Isle of Wight on Saturday, July 4 passing through Rye on Tuesday, July 7 as part of its 6,700 kilometre journey around the entire British coastline. Inspired by the Great Tour event that took place in 2010 and 2015, SweetSpot Founder and managing director Hugh Roberts and long-time friend Robin Young are re-creating the 6,700 kilometre, 64 day ride.

Hugh and Robin’s ride saw them re-start in Rye from outside the famous Mermaid Inn hotel last week for the leg to Broadstairs in Kent and this week saw them heading around the Kent and Essex coasts to East Anglia to complete week one of the Great Tour.

This year’s ride aims to raise awareness and funds for chosen health charities and causes in 2020 and to help create an annual fundraising ride around a recognised and waymarked cycle route around the whole coastline of Britain from 2021 onwards.

Raising money for charities

From 2021 the Great Tour ride will be the fundraising flagship of the Great Tour, for which charitable status is being sought. This annual event will raise money to support projects or other charities in community, health and environmental charities and causes – all of which are consistent with the Great Tour’s ethos.

Past editions of the Great Tour in 2010 and 2015 have supported a range of health charities, including the Prostate Cancer Charity, MacMillan and Anthony Nolan. Following the coastline as closely as possible by bike, and never losing the sight, the sound, the smell of the sea or sense of the sea, the Great Tour route takes in 6,700 kilometres of roads, cycle paths and green lanes around the country in a celebration of Britain’s coastline.

More information about the Great Tour can be found on the website and you can find out more and donate via our Just Giving page.

Image Credits: Peter Hodges .

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