Date: 26 June 2006
Pedal Power Rules At Norwood’s Junior Bike Ride
Nearly 400 energetic young fundraisers took to the saddle on Sunday 25 June for Norwood’s Junior Bike Ride, supported by Tribe and The Jewish News.
The charity cycling challenge saw children aged seven to 14 years old, joined by their families and friends, cycle an action-packed 10-mile off-road mountain bike adventure through Bracknell Nature Reserve in Windsor Forest,. The ride raised £20,000 for Anglo-Jewry’s leading children and family services charity.
The conditions were perfectand the atmosphere of anticipation palpable, as the Mayor of Bracknell Forest, Councillor Clifton Thompson, and The Chairman of Wokingham District Council, Councillor Angus Ross, waved the riders over the start line. It was a feast of mud, mess and mates galore as the younger challengers peddled through a succession of puddles and other obstacles as they wound their way through the course. Once all of these were successfully negotiated, cheers, medals and certificates awaited them at the finish line.
One very special participant was 12-year-old Talya Jacobson, a Norwood service user who has cerebral palsy and is partially sighted. She completed the Junior Bike Ride alongside her siblings Dani and Harry and her mum Beverley, to culminate an amazing trio of physical challenges over two weeks that also included a 1.5 km run and a 1km swim. So far her exertions have raised over £10,000, with most of it going to Norwood!
After the ride Talya said: “I really enjoyed riding through the forest, but now I am very tired. I am happy to be raisng money for Norwood. “ Beverley added: “It’s been a fantastic day and we are all so proud of Talya. To achieve what she has achieved over the past two weeks is nothing short of amazing.”
Ian Tate, Head of Challenges at Norwood said at the event: “It has been another highly-successful Norwood Challenges event. How fantastic it is to see so many kids out raising money to support specialist children’s services that help their peers. The Junior Bike Ride is about putting the fun back into fundraising, and we have certainly achieved that today. Our thanks go to everyone who has helped make the 2006 event such a success.”
Councillor Thompson said: “It has been an honour and a pleasure to be involved with such a well-run and enjoyable event. It is lovely to see so many people having fun whilst making a real difference to other people’s lives. Well done to everyone involved!”
For more information please contact the Public Relations Manager at Norwood on 020 8420 6900 or email pressoffice@norwood.org.uk
