New look for charity cycle ride

An off-road cycling event will take place in June to raise money for a care project in Southwell.

Tonya’s Challenge will replace Tonya’s Bike Ride, which was an annual event organised by Miss Beryl Smith (75) of Lower Kirklington Road, Southwell, to raise money for Southwell Care Project.

Southwell Care Project was set up in 1999 by a group of parents concerned about what would happen to their children with learning difficulties when they were no longer around to care for them.

The project on Westgate, Southwell, helps adults with learning difficulties to live independently in the community where possible and offers practical courses and support to them and counselling and advice to their families and carers.

The bike ride was the idea of Miss Smith’s granddaughter, Miss Tonya Hinds (32) of Norwood Gardens, Southwell, one of the users of the care project.

The 15-mile route involved riding along Racecourse Road, Southwell, and around Fiskerton. It was held five times.

Miss Smith said: “We didn’t think we were going to raise very much, but we managed to raise £1,000 with the first bike ride and over the years we must have raised thousands of pounds for the project.”

Miss Smith and Miss Hinds decided they could no longer organise the ride because of Miss Hinds’ poor health.

Tonya’s Challenge will have four routes of 51/2 miles, 91/2 miles, 20 miles and 37 miles, and will all start and return to Southwell Rugby Club on Park Lane.

Miss Smith said that if Miss Hinds felt well enough she would start the riders off.

Miss Smith said: “She loves her name being involved with the bike rides. She’s been able to present cheques to people in the past and it really makes her feel like she’s a star.”

Mrs Anna Joyce of Westgate, Southwell, will be organising Tonya’s Challenge on June 1.

Mrs Joyce said: “The idea is that we attract all sorts of people — from serious riders to families — so it becomes a really good community event and attracts people from outside the area.

“The routes are mainly off-road along bridleways.”

Mrs Joyce said she decided to help organise Tonya’s Challenge because she wanted to support the work that Southwell Care Project did.

She said: “I think it is a social responsibility to look after everybody in our community.”

Entry for Tonya’s Challenge is £10 for adults, £5 for children or £25 for family ticket for two adults and three children if places are booked before the event, or £13 for adults, £7.50 for children and £30 for a family ticket on the day.

Mrs Joyce said they were also looking for volunteers to marshal the event.

For further information about the ride and entry forms, contact www.tonyas-challenge.org