Samaritans Heritage Ride 2022
Rescheduled Dates: 21-26 May 2022

I have been a listening volunteer at the Winchester branch of Samaritans for seven years, and have come to appreciate how important our work is, to aid those struggling to cope and who need someone who will listen and respond without judgment or pressure.

Samaritans is a charity dedicated to reducing those feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide: its nationwide 20,00 listening volunteers answer over five million calls each year – one every six seconds - by phone, email, letter, face-to-face (on hold during the pandemic) and soon by on-line chat. 

The Winchester branch has 123 listening volunteers; it receives no grant aid from national or local government and so must find its own resources to fund the annual branch running costs of some £60,000. 

So: I am looking to raise funds for the branch by taking part, along with fellow Samaritans from across the country, in the Sams Heritage Cycle ride 2022 ( https://samsheritage.bike); 350 miles from London (Cutty Sark) to York Minster, via Colchester, Cambridge, Kings Lynn, Lincoln and Hull.

The funds that I raise will go towards the funding of the Winchester
Branch, and I will pay my subsistence and accommodation costs.