THE Acorn Dalmatian Bike Ride is in gear and ready to roll for its tenth year after being confined to kennels in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Organiser Dave Rees says cyclists are straining at the leash ready to saddle up for the iconic event in aid of Newport-based St David’s Hospice Care
Keen cyclist Dave, who started the event in 2012 with a group of friends and which has raised more than £250,000 in that time, says he’s hoping to attract new riders this time.
This year’s event is on Saturday, June 26.
Dave said: “As the country opens up again after the pandemic we will try to make this year even better than usual but of course following all the government guidelines for Covid safety.
“As always we will have the rides in the morning returning to the garden of the fabulous Priory Hotel in Caerleon where there will be a 5 star BBQ presented by the staff at the hotel. There is no charge for admission to the BBQ for either the riders or their families that come to support this great fundraiser for St David’s Hospice Care.
“We will spend the afternoon in the gardens at the Priory with music, great food fun and laughter. We have live Dalmatian dogs to welcome the riders home and pose for pictures with the riders and children subject to distancing rules at the time and of course the wicked Cruella de Ville will be in attendance.
“This year there will not be a canal route, as we don’t want to put 100 people in coaches to get to Brecon, so we are keeping with the 20, 40 and 58 mile routes. We have also introduced a very flat 10 mile route so that all the people in the city that have taken to cycling since the first lockdown can have a chance to take part in their first arranged cycle event.
“The 10-mile route starts in Caerleon taking the cycle path to Sainsbury’s along the river front to cross over the SDR bridge and then back up the riverfront and on to Caerleon. It really is a very easy flat route and ideal for first timers
“Come and sign up early for this amazing event. It’s not about hardened cyclists, this is a fun family event that you can take part in as a family or with a group of friends. You will get an event cycle top that you can wear all year round and it’s a chance for you to get sponsored by the mile to raise much needed funds for St David’s Hospice Care.
“After a very tough year for everybody St David’s Hospice really needs the support of the City and indeed the people in the County of Gwent. Hospice care is free but very costly so please dig deep and make a donation. If you can’t cycle we need volunteers on the day as marshals so please contact St David’s Hospice Care on 01633 851051 if you can spare a few hours on Saturday 26th June.
The Acorn Dalmatian Bike Ride is sponsored by Acorn. Acorn’s Group Operations Director, Andrew Tugwell, said: “Many of my friends and colleagues have had personal experience of St David’s Hospice Care and the wonderful work they do for our local community.
“The past year has obviously been difficult for many businesses, but charities in particular have been hit very hard by the pandemic due to not being able to carry out fundraising events as they usually do. So we are delighted to be in a position to support the Dalmatian Bike Ride once again this year in aid of a truly worthy cause.”
Event organiser Beth Harrington, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “We’re all working together to ensure the Acorn Dalmatian Bike Ride is a brilliant success again this year.
“The Dally, as it’s come to be known, is a truly wonderful, fun event which appeals to all levels of cyclists. The new 10-mile route is sure to appear to rookie’s and perhaps also those feeling a bit physically challenged after months out of the saddle during lockdown.”
“The Acorn Dalmatian Bike Ride is a well-loved and critical event in the St David’s Hospice Care fundraising event calendar, helping to fund the continued work of our nurses and the running of hospice services provided free to all patients and families. The entry fee together with any sponsorship raised provides vital palliative care to people facing life limiting illnesses as well as providing support to their families at a very difficult time. We are not only looking for riders but volunteers also to help with a variety of roles, please contact us to find out more.”
- Register your entry online at www.dalmatianbikeride.com
- Volunteer: http://www.dalmatianbikeride.com/contact-us/
- Contact: dalmatian@stdavidshospicecare.org / 01633 851051
- Set-up a Just Giving page or make a donation towards the work of St David’s Hospice Care at: www.justgiving.com/campaign/dalmatianbike
- Text to donate code:
Text to donate
- Text CWTCH 3 Dalmatian to give £3
- Text CWTCH 5 Dalmatian to give £5
- Text CWTCH 10 Dalmatian to give £10
- Text CWTCH 15 Dalmatian to give £15
- Text CWTCH 20 Dalmatian to give £20
Send your text to 70300
100% of your donation goes to St David’s Hospice Care
Texts costs your donation plus 1 message at your standard network rate.
Always ask the bill payers permission. Registered Charity number: 1010576
- Entry fees:
Please enter soon to ensure you will have a cycling jersey or technical t-shirt for the event day.
- Adult Entry £25 (to include a technical t-shirt) Adult entry £35 (to include a cycling jersey)
- Family entry £30 (for 1 adult & 1 child – to include an adult technical t-shirt & child t-shirt)
- Child Entry £10 (to include a t-shirt)*Children must be accompanied by an adult