The recent Bank Holiday weekend saw more than 30 cyclists riding to raise money for The Connection in the 2020 Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride.

Since 2008, cyclists have followed the 200-mile route of the Queen Eleanor Crosses from Harby, near Lincoln to Charing Cross and Westminster Abbey in London. This year, because of the restrictions of social distancing, cyclists could not ride and stay in church halls together along this route as in previous years, so most cyclists rode 200 miles in their home areas, on routes they chose for themselves.

Amongst their number were Ted (aged 6) and Henry (aged 9) who between them cycled 200 miles over their school holidays. At the other extreme, Dave cycled all 200 miles in one day!

A relay of cyclists did follow the normal route along the Queen Eleanor Crosses, each small team covering one leg of the journey. They carried a cross carved from a yew tree that grew on the site where Queen Eleanor died in 1290 in Harby. Richard Croft, who coordinated the Relay, and fellow cyclists, who carried the cross from Harby, via Lincoln Cathedral, to Grantham, hit torrential rain for their whole ride. This was in sharp contrast to the 2019 QECR, which coincided with some of the hottest days of 2019.

Money is still coming in, but the total raised to support the work of The Connection through the Friends has already reached £20,000, including Gift Aid, and has already exceeded last year’s final total of about £17,000.

Our thanks to all the cyclists, supporters and organising Committee for putting together such a wonderful event. If you would like to donate, it’s not too late to sponsor them – to do so, please go to our Virgin Money Giving page. Anyone interested in taking party in 2021 should contact Charles Woodd on 07962 213494, or email queeneleanorcycle@gmail.com