Challenge Yourself with the Heart of Kent Cyclo Sportive 2014

If you’re looking for a personal challenge and an opportunity to support a wonderful cause all rolled into one, then it’s time to sign up for the Heart of Kent Cyclo Sportive. Organised by the Heart of KentHospice, the 100km timed cycle ride takes place on 27^th April 2014 through the beautiful Kent countryside.

Heart of Kent Hospice Cyclo Sportive 27 April 2014

Starting at the East Malling Research on Kiln Barn Road in Ditton, the circular route passes through towns and villages such as Wateringbury, Yalding, Staplehurst, Headcorn, Frittenden, East Peckham, Offham, and West Malling. In addition to the full 100km route, there are also two shorter circular routes. One loops back at Staplehurst and is 65km long, while the other loops back at Yalding and is 38km. All routes are well signposted.

Known as the cycle of care, this event is a real physical challenge due to the undulating Kent countryside. There are feed stations on both the 100km and 65km route, and participants will be challenged to achieve a specified time based on their age and gender.

On the day, registration for the full route begins at 7.30 am, with the cycle starting at 8.30am. Entry costs £35 per person. For those riding the shorter routes, registration commences at 8.30am and the cycle begins at 9.00am. The cost for participating in the shorter routes is £30. To sign up for the event, or to take a look at maps for the three routes, visit the Heart of Kent Hospice website. http://www.hokh.org/events/event-detail/heart-of-kent-cyclo-sportive1

The Heart of Kent Hospice 

The Cycle Sportive is one of many events organised throughout the year to support the Heart of Kent Hospice. The hospice is a registered charity that provides invaluable palliative care to people with life limiting illnesses throughout the area, including Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling, and Aylesford. At any one time the charity may be providing care and support for up to 350 patients as well as their families and carers. They offer care, comfort, compassion, and hope during a time of great need. Services that they provide include inpatient care, family support, care at home, day therapy, and education and training.

The care and support that the Heart of Kent Hospice provides is free of charge to those that need it. However the cost of providing those services comes to around £3.8 million per year, £2.7 million of which must be financed through fundraising. This makes events such as the Heart of Kent Cyclo Sportive vital to ensuring that the hospice can continue to provide the services that are so vital to local people.

If you’re not convinced you can cycle 100km, there are plenty of less energetic events on the Heart of Kent Hospice fundraising calendar. On March 20^th there is a Charity Ladies Lunch, on April 1^st there is an Open Garden Scheme, and on 19^th July there is a Wild West Walk. Alternatively why not visit the Heart of Kent Hospice shop on West Malling High Street for high quality branded fashion as well as antiques and collectables? However you choose to support this valuable local charity you can be sure your contribution will make a real difference to patients suffering from life limiting illness.