Ride+Stride is a sponsored event for cyclists, walkers, joggers, runners, and mobility scooter drivers. You can also be sponsored as a welcomer on duty in a church. 50% of sponsorship money goes to the church or chapel chosen by the participant, with the other 50% going to the LeicesterShire Historic Churches Trust which organises the event and uses the funds raised for grants to churches and chapels for repair, restoration and improvement projects.

You plan your own route (which may cross county borders) using the List of Churches and Chapels that are intending to open on the day. Riders and Striders ask their relations, friends and colleagues to sponsor them - so much for each church or chapel they visit between 10.00am and 6.00pm on the day, or a lump sum. This is recorded on your sponsorship form and you can take part for as long or short a time, within the day, as is convenient for you.

The Sponsorship Form will be available from June, and the List of Churches and Chapels will be uploaded during August. You can also set up your own Ride+Stride fundraising page at www.goodhub.com/go/lhct-ride-and-stride

You can ‘clock in’ at the first church on your chosen route from 10:00am onwards. There will be a Ride+Stride register to sign. If there is no Welcomer to sign your sponsorship form, please complete and initial your form yourself. Enjoy looking round the church and churchyard then continue to the next church or chapel on your route. Refreshments will be available, but not everywhere, so please carry water and food with you.

By 6:00pm the last keen participants will have signed the register. Some churches and chapels, particularly in hilly areas or far from other churches, receive many fewer visitors, sometimes in single figures or none at all, but the event works best when as many churches and chapels as possible are open on the day.

Many congregations see the day as a Church Open Day when useful jobs can be done inside the church or in the churchyard - with short breaks to welcome visitors!

When you have collected your sponsorship money, please give your form and the sponsorship money to your local organiser who sends it to Mr Ron Cook, the Hon Treasurer for Leicestershire Ride+Stride. Ron adds everything up, banks the money, and sends each church or chapel its half share.

An experienced rider can visit 30 churches or more and, with good sponsorship, can raise a considerable sum. In Leicestershire, some churches raise over £1,000 through Ride+Stride and there are some participants who raise more than £1,000 each.

We hope to raise at least £40,000 through Leicestershire Ride+Stride this year – please take part, raise funds, and have a great day! For further information, please contact Sean Dudley sean.LHCT@gmail.com / 07852 467999