You've all played Monopoly, but did you ride it? On Sunday 7 September 2003 around 500 riders took to the streets of London's capital to ride the Monopoly Ride taking in the sights of the Monopoly Board route on their bikes and in the process they raised over £60,000 for Norwood, the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) and 95.8 Capital FM's Help a London Child (HALC) by Stretching Themselves For Good!
The Monopoly Ride - in its third year in 2003 - was created to help safeguard the future of many vulnerable youngsters and people of all ages with learning disabilities. Organisers of the Monopoly Bike Ride, Norwood, are one of the UK's leading children & family services organisations supporting thousands of children, families and adults coping with learning disabilities and social disadvantage.
Leading the 'call to action' to support and participate in the Monopoly Bike Ride, was Pop Idol Judge and 95.8 Capital FM DJ, Neil Fox, who encouraged participants and supporters to "raise money for three deserving charities - get on your bike and register to pass 'GO'!"
The true-to-the-game 20-mile flat route, which was ideal for novices and experienced cyclists alike, took riders past some of London's most famous landmarks including the London Eye, Admiralty Arch, Big Ben, St. Katherine's Dock and Tower Bridge. Familiar Monopoly Board squares incorporated along the way included Euston and Whitechapel Road, Fleet Street, The Strand, Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar and Leicester Square as well as King's Cross, Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street stations.
Tony McNulty MP, Minister of Transport, started the Monopoly Ride at 8 am at Marylebone Station and sent off around 500 corporate, team and individual cyclists on their fund-raising ride. Riders were also cheered on by Regent Street Carnival revellers as they headed down the pedestrianised Carnaby Street before the carnival started.
En-route, riders also got their own set of Monopoly site cards detailing the ride route and were treated to regular refreshments from sponsored refreshment stops including Haagen Daaz, giving out free ice cream at Leicester Square, and Digby Trout, with complimentary drinks and brownies at the Tower of London 'jail' site. Legal firm Dechert, sponsors of Fleet Street provided every rider with a helium balloon, donating 50 pence for every balloon that crossed the finishing line!
Rider and author Tim Moore, who is publishing his latest paperback - Do Not Pass Go! - a stirring travelogue of one man's (his!) erratic progress around those 28 stations, utilities and streets - a tribute to the progress of London in the 66 years since the launch of the worlds most popular game - signed and sold a number of copies of the book in aid of the three benefiting charities at the ride's end!
In order to pass 'GO', riders were encouraged to raise a minimum of £200 in sponsorship and pay a small registration fee of £20 for adults and £10 for students, which included a free T-Shirt, free parking, route map and free refreshments. If you want to know more about the event and register for 2004, call 020 8420 6834 or go online to www.norwood.org.uk/challenges and Stretch Yourself For Good!
