CLEM TO CYCLE THE SIX ICONIC LAKELAND PASSES IN A ONE DAY RIDE TO TRY TO SCORE FUNDS FOR CATH BENSON’S, BLACKPOOL’S MAYOR, CHARITY OF THE YEAR: STREETLIFE.

To try and raise some much needed cash for this year’s Blackpool Mayor’s nominated charity Streetlife, Steve Clements aka Clem, a trustee of Blackpool Stanley ARLFC, is going to cycle the iconic Six Lakeland Passes, approximately 109 miles, in a one day, sponsored, ride. The ride, planned to take place on Saturday 3rd September 22, will be somewhat challenging for Clem, given his mobility issues.

The ride is being done as a thank you to Cath Benson, the Layton Ward Councillor and this year’s Blackpool Mayor, and long time supporter of Blackpool Stanley ARLFC, for all the support she has provided to Stanley over many years. Hopefully, it will provide some much needed funds, and awareness for Streetlife.

Streetlife is an organisation, established in 1982, which assists vulnerable young people in Blackpool, a lot of whom access their service as homeless.Their aim is to enable and empower them to make informed choices about issues affecting their lives. They provide support – for those up to the age of 26 – from The Base, The Day Centre, and Night Shelter, which serves as emergency accommodation for those who need it most.

The ride route climbs up and whizzes down six of the Lake District’s most legendary climbs. These are mountain passes of fierce repute whose names evoke a mix of terror and excitement in even the most steelly legged cyclists.The elevation profile resembles the teeth of a crocodile. Clem will cycle approximately 109 miles, with well over 6,700 feet of climbing, incorporating gradients of up to 33%. The ride will start and finish in Ambleside, heading first to Kirkstone Pass, on to Keswick, then Honister Pass, Newlands, Whinlatter Pass, Lorton Valley, Cold Fell, Hardknott Pass, and finally Wrynose Pass and back to Ambleside.

Clem’s backstory as a cyclist is a little unusual. In 2005, at the age of 45, and still a very active rugby league player, referee and runner, he was involved in a RTA, which at the time was life threatening, and was definitely life changing. He suffered quite significant lower limb injuries and was told there was a distinct possibility that he may never be able to walk unaided again. Not one to take things lying down, he battled back to some level of fitness. Following many bouts of surgery and rehabilitation, which included complete knee and hip replacements, he quickly realised that he would never be able to run, and would have to give up his beloved active RL and running activities. However, he was determined to pursue an active lifestyle as possible. To this end he initially took up handcycling, progressing on to a leg powered three wheeled recumbent trike, and then on to a conventional road bike. However, following a fall from one of his bikes, he was left with a severely fractured femur on his bad leg, and was forced to reassess his cycling activities. He returned to a recumbent trike, progressed back to conventional road bikes, but because of his advancing years and general state of knackeredness, he now finds himself back on an adapted three wheeler. He will do the ride on this bike.

Please find it in your heart to sponsor Clem, and provide some much needed support to the homeless youth of Blackpool.