Sponsors return to Haywards Heath Bike Ride

Organisers having attracted St Catherine’s Hospice, which has agreed to bring its own bike ride on board, with the combined event raising money for cancer patients.

Another huge boost comes with the announcement that the corporate sponsors of last year’s Greater Haywards Heath Bike Ride have signed up again.

Ruth de Mierre, speaking for the event’s founders, said: “We were just speechless when our wonderful friends from 1st Central, The Orchards, Nuffield Hospital, Aria Assistance and Masters & Son contacted US to offer their help again.

“It’s really amazing and it’s going to spur us on to even greater heights I promise you!”

The event on May 18 will be particularly poignant for Ruth, whose late husband, John, was diagnosed with cancer last year and died following complications in October.

John was a county and district councillor and former governor of Harlands and St Paul’s schools as well as former chairman of the Haywards Heath and District Business Association (HHDBA).

Ruth and John were behind the bike ride when it was launched and saw public enthusiasm grow with each successive ride with more than 1,000 cyclists taking part last year.

The ride, which started as an idea in a pub, is now organised by Haywards Heath Town Team with the corporate sponsors offsetting some of the costs and helping the 2013 event to raise £16,500.

The total - which surprised all those behind the event - paid for 15 life-saving defibrillators which were donated at various key locations in the Haywards Heath district.

This year the bike ride day is being reorganised again with four refreshed routes, a new mini bike ride for the under-fives and a packed day of entertainment to make it even more of a community day for families.

St Catherine’s Hospice has said it will be in charge of the afternoon’s festivities.

Ruth said everyone was determined to make 2014 the best ride ever, not only to help all those whose lives have been desolated by cancer, but also in recognition of the faith show by the 2013 sponsors and their repeated support.

To register for the May 18 ride go to the website at www.hhbikeride.co.uk or call Ruth on 01444 453399 (email [email protected]).

For those people who do not want to ride, they can also help by contacting Ruth and offering to lend a hand with the route marshalling and registration on the day.