Tour de Foyle Charity Challenge

The final countdown is on as leaders of the main churches in the North West invite people to get on their bikes or put on their running shoes and take part in this years ‘Tour de Foyle’ Charity Challenge, which will set off from the new Foyle Arena on Saturday, August 29.

The event is being planned by the North West Methodist Mission and the Churches Trust, and is supported by the four church leaders in Londonderry. It will build on last year’s inaugural ‘Tour de Foyle’ which attracted 140 cyclists. Through their participation and donations from the wider community the event raised £4,000 for the churches’ homeless and food bank projects. This year participants will have a choice between a 50-mile cycle and a 10k fun run.

Cyclists will undertake a scenic lap of Lough Foyle. Leaving from the Foyle arena, they will cycle to Magilligan where, after a brief ‘pit stop’, they will board the ferry across to Greencastle. The route will then proceed back to the city, crossing the Peace Bridge into St Columb’s Park before finishing back at the Foyle Arena. Building on the growing trend towards getting fit and healthy living, the idea is simply to bring people together from all the communities across our city and beyond, to raise badly-needed funds for two very worthy, local causes. It is a fun event and open to everyone, from beginners to more experienced cyclists. The main emphasis is on taking part.

Given the surge in running in the North West, organisers have decided to incorporate a 10k run into this year’s event. Like the cycle, it’s all about participation and, again, open to everyone from the novice to the seasoned athlete. It, too, will set off from the Foyle Arena, following a scenic route incorporating the Peace Bridge and the Foyle Bridge before finishing back at the Foyle Arena.

By taking part in the either of the Tour De Foyle Charity Challenge events, you will be helping people in your own community who are experiencing difficult times in their lives and working with the help of our charities to get things back on track. So please help us to continue to help them by getting on your bike or putting on your running shoes on Saturday, August 29.

Registration is now open and will close on August 26, so book early to avoid disappointment. Visit www.tourdefoyle.co.uk for further details. We also encourage people to engage with our facebook site https://www.facebook.com/tourdefoyle

The wider community can also get behind the fundraiser and make a donation by visiting https://mydonate.bt.com/events/tourdefoylecycle

Event promoters: North West Methodist Mission and The Churches Trust, Pantry Project.