Discover how our riders raised £50,000 in 2023 for MS awareness and support, empowering MS Support Groups across the UK.
MS Stories: East Cumbria MS Society Group
Over the years, Bike the UK for MS has visited many different MS Society groups, having supported and been supported by them across many of our trips throughout the whole history of the charity. One such group is the East Cumbria MS Society Group. This is a group we have met a number of times across both our Lands End to John O’Groats trips and Sea to Sea trips. Through these meetings we build a meaningful bond with local groups, adding extra motivation and meaning to our riders efforts.
Our most recent visit to the East Cumbria Group was at Penrith on the end of the first day of riding on our Sea to Sea trip, at the amazing Penrith Rugby Club who kindly let us stay overnight. The MS Society group were kind enough to share a bit about Bike the UK for MS within their most recent newsletter. Discover more about the local group, alongside some of our riders and ride leaders stories (and some amazing photos) within the Newsletter, which they have kindly let us share on here…
It is a highlight of our rides to meet and spend time with these local MS Societies, and to see the crucial work they do for those living with MS in their communities. For anyone looking to discover more about the East Cumbria MS Society group you can find them through the MS Society website; East Cumbria Group | MS Society. Additionally, if you are looking for info on your local MS Society group you can find them through the MS Societies local search tool.
Finally, discover more about our Sea to Sea trip for 2024 here, your 2024 adventure awaits!
University RAG Partnerships with Bike the UK for MS
Over the years, Bike the UK for MS has worked with many University RAG groups, having students from a number of different universities riding with us. Looking ahead to the 2024 Trips, we are excited to continue this fantastic partnership, working with RAG groups from Manchester, Nottingham, and Loughborough Universities.
What is RAG?
But what is University RAG? RAG is an organisation through which students can discover and tackle amazing challenges whilst raising money for good causes. For example, the university RAG will often run RAG fairs with a number of challenges and causes represented. Ultimately, these fairs provide a place where students can take the opportunity to visit a number of different charity stands to discover the causes they could support and the adventures they could tackle.
Manchester Get into Volunteering Fair
These RAG Fairs are a highlight of our off season, getting to travel out to different universities and meet some amazing people, looking to tackle the country by bike whilst raising money for Multiple Sclerosis Research and Awareness. This year we have been lucky enough to attend the Manchester Get into Volunteering fair, spending the day in the Student’s Union promoting our rides for 2024. It was great to see the interest across the board, from our 14 days of riding Land’s End to John O’Groats ride to our 3 day Sea to Sea trip.
Loughborough RAG
Looking ahead, we will be in Loughborough for the Loughborough University Unlock an Activity Night on the 9th October! This is a fantastic opportunity to share our new Loughborough RAG specific trip for 2024, that being the iconic London to Paris Route. After multiple years of students joining us on our NC500 trips, we can’t wait to tackle this new challenge with them!
If any Loughborough students are interested please do come down and visit us. We’d love to share more information on the challenge with you, discuss bikes or even just say hello!
If any university RAG groups or clubs are interested in partnering with us to have riders joining our trips, please do get in touch at info@biketheukforms.org, we’d love to hear from you.
Local Cyclocross Race donates to Bike the UK for MS
Bike the UK for MS was the official charity partner of Round 1 of the Western Cyclocross League on Sunday 24th September in Frome with organizer Avid Sport donating £1 per rider entry to Bike the UK for MS.
With 172 riders taking the start line across the day’s races, that means another £172 donated to support those fighting MS. The Western Cyclocross League continues through until January with the next Round where Bike the UK for MS is the charity partner taking place in Bradford on Avon on the 29th October. A huge thanks and congratulations to all the riders who took part in this British Cycling event and we hope your season has started well!
This is the first time that a cyclocross race in the Western Cyclocross League has partnered with Bike the UK for MS to help raise funds but both the charity’s Founder James Whateley and Programme Manager Felix Young have raced in the league over the past ten years. Cyclocross is a sport where riders race on grass (and mud!) for up to an hour on a course that may force you to get off and carry your bike with things like steps and hurdles. The Western Cyclocross League features races from across North Somerset, Wiltshire, Bristol and Gloucestershire with eleven races this season. The event in Frome was organized with the support of Frome Town Council, Frome Cricket Club and Frome and District Agricultural Society. If you are running an event and would like to partner up with Bike the UK for MS to help contribute to supporting those fighting MS then please get in touch via info@biketheukforms.org.
How Bike the UK for MS supports the MS community
Our trips truly would not be the same without meeting the amazing members of the MS Society groups up and down the UK. Meeting with these individuals is such a highlight of every trip, and this a great way for our riders to not only learn more about multiple sclerosis (MS) but also to remind them to keep pedaling as their hard work is helping so many amazing people! As our 2022 summer season has come to an end, we wanted to reflect upon the main reason we run our trips – To support those living with MS. With an estimated 130,000 living with multiple sclerosis in the UK, it is imperative to us to support research to find a cure for the disease.
2022 Year in Review
With the depths of winter creeping ever nearer, it feels like a good time to cast our minds back to the past summer season and reflect on what has been another extraordinary year for Bike the UK for MS.