Shaftesbury Rotary Club will be running their third annual cycle event The North Dorset Cycle Ride on Sunday 20th May 2018.

Riders will register at Park Walk near Shaftesbury Town Hall, and then make their way to the start also on the picturesque Park Wall. Riders complete the ride by taking the “Gold Hill Challenge” and cycle up the famous cobbled Gold Hill. This was very popular last year with the riders being welcomed and applauded at the top of the hill by cheering public. (an easier finish is available for those not wishing to take on theGold Hill Challenge !!)

Exciting news for this year is that we will be laying on food, drink and music back on Park Walk to celebrate the end of a great day. Please join us – riders and all !!!

The event is being held to raise awareness of, and funds for the Prostate Cancer UK charity, but other local charities will also benefit in the work carried out by the Shaftesbury Rotary Club.

Shaftesbury Rotary Club very much appreciate the events Sponsors who are Farnfiels Solicitors, Hammoon Cycles of Shaftesbury, Signrite Signs of Shaftesbury and Shean and Hare Construction Ltd.

Cost to take part is modest: Pre registered online £20.00 per adult, “on the day“ £25.00 per adult. Young people aged 10 - 16 years are half price, and children under 10 years are welcome join in for free.

Riders can pre register by going to the website www.cycleride.shaftesburyrotaryclub.org or contact Paul of Shaftesbury Rotary Club on 07968 494111.

There are three routes to choose from all starting and finishing from the same place. The first is a family friendly 12 mile route (starting at 11.00 am). Secondly a tougher 25 mile route (starting at 10.30 am), and lastly a 50 mile ride (starting at 8.30 am) for the more serious biker !!

All routes take you around the beautiful countryside that surrounds Shaftesbury, and are largely on quiet roads. There will be comprehensive signage, with marshals at important points.

All riders are encouraged to raise their own sponsorship from family, friends and works colleagues etc. and all details and sponsorship forms are on the website.

For practical reasons there will be a cap on the number of entrants so please register quickly to avoid missing out !!

First aid, “rescue” backup and refreshments will be available.

Last year a cheque for £2,000.00 was handed to Prostate Cancer UK. This year we want to do much more so please come along, have a great time, a lot of fun and raise lots of much needed money.

In the UK and Ireland, one in eight men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives, mainly affecting the over 50s. Prostate cancer, despite being so common, is not well known about and too seldom talked about. Too few men know about the prostate, nor about the symptoms of prostate cancer and the disease.

Over 10,000 men die every year from prostate cancer in the UK and Ireland.

The good news though is that the survival rate is improving. However, there is still a need to encourage further early diagnosis as this can often lead to more successful treatment.