The LeicesterShire Historic Churches Trust is encouraging people to sign up to take part in Ride+Stride this September – the annual fundraising event that helps raise money for repairs and improvements to historic churches, chapels and meeting houses throughout Leicester and Leicestershire.
Taking place on Saturday, 14th September, Ride+Stride is a Church Open Day and a sponsored event for cyclists, walkers, joggers, runners, horse-riders and mobility scooter drivers. People can also be sponsored as a welcomer on duty in a church.
The LeicesterShire Historic Churches Trust celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and is hoping to exceed the £37,253 raised through the 2023 edition of Ride+Stride.
50 per cent of sponsorship money goes to the church or chapel chosen by participants, with the other 50 per cent going to the LeicesterShire Historic Churches Trust. The Trust uses its share of the funds raised for grants to churches and chapels for repair, restoration and improvement projects.
Participants plan their own route (which may cross county borders) using the List of Churches and Chapels that are intending to open on the day. This will be uploaded to the LHCT website in August.
Riders and Striders can ask relations, friends and colleagues to sponsor them. This could be in the form of a particular amount for each church or chapel they visit between 10.00am and 6.00pm on the day, or a lump sum. This is recorded on a sponsor form and interested parties can take part for as long or short a time, within the day, as is convenient for them.
“Ride+Stride offers a great opportunity to not only take in some of the incredible church buildings and chapels we have here in Leicestershire, but to also raise funds to help repair and preserve those in need of support,” said Janet Arthur MBE, Chair of LHCT.
“The total money raised in 2023 was a 7.5 per cent increase on 2022, and a great way to mark the Trust’s 60th anniversary in 2024 would be to have as many people as possible take part in Ride+Stride this year to raise more than £40,000 this year!”
For more information and to sign your church up for Ride+Stride, visit www.lhct.org.uk/ride-and-stride.
LeicesterShire Historic Churches Trust is a non-denominational charity that helps churches, chapels and meeting houses with grants for repairs and improvements, and raises funds for that purpose.
Visit www.lhct.org.uk for more information.
