Bike Active!

News just in from Woodbridge Rotary ...

Presentation to “Bike Active” by Woodbridge Rotary Club and Woodbridge Inner Wheel ….

We were delighted to welcome Peter Robinson from Bike Active, Pete Whelan from Plumsgate Cycling Club and Jan Whitaker, Glenister Carpenter and Lesley Dees from Woodbridge Inner Wheel to lunch to celebrate the success of our recent charity cycling event.

161 bike riders converged on Butley Village Hall to enjoy an off-road event of around 25 miles mainly along forest trails through Tangham Forest.

The event was arranged by Woodbridge Rotarians with indispensable help provided by Pete Whelan (Plumsgate Cycling Club), Woodbridge Inner Wheel (who provided the refreshments) and the Police Cadets who turned up to “man” the checkpoints and any road crossings alongside Rotarians.

“Bike Active” is a charity run by volunteers which facilitates cycling experiences for many disabled adults. They are based at Alton Water and have an array of amazing “cycles” including tandem trikes, bikes with sidecars, combinations of bikes with wheelchairs attached and recumbent bikes. The club has been going for 25 years and has gone from strength to strength with regular Friday groups who cycle all year round. Each volunteer cycles 5 or 6 trips out with a disabled rider – sometimes two – each trip being around 3 miles. All disabled riders are accompanied by their carer. Often there can be 30 bikes going out as a group on local roads with safety of the riders and local traffic being of paramount importance.

A total donation of £900 was presented to Peter Robinson –   Bike Active representative - with £620 being donated by Woodbridge Rotary Club and £280 from Woodbridge Inner Wheel who kindly donated their proceeds from the refreshments they provided on the day.

£100 was also donated to Plumsgate Cycling Club towards Club funds as a “thank you” for their invaluable help in the planning and on the day.

A great time was had by all with riders asking if the event would take place again. Look out for this fantastic event next year!

* Photo shows President Ron Whitaker presenting cheque for £620 to Bike Active representative Peter Robinson, alongside Glenister Carpenter, Jan Whitaker and Lesley Dees from Woodbridge Inner Wheel with their donation of £280…. surrounded by Rotarians.