During early autumn of 2018, 10 Freemasons from Leicestershire & Rutland completed a gruelling 150 cycle ride around the two counties in efforts to raise money for Rainbows Children’s Hospice and the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
Building on the success of last year’s charity cycle ride, the team turned their efforts to cycling over 75 miles a day for two days to raise money for these worthy causes. The majority of the riders visited all eleven Masonic Centres in the Province over two days, however three of the riders decided to challenge themselves even more and visit every centre on one day and completed the 150 mile ride at an average of 16mph, a tremendous effort by the three concerned. W.Bro. Lindsay Taylor-Haynes from Roundhill Lodge No.8639, commented “it was one of the longest cycle rides I have ever done, I enjoyed the challenge and delighted to help raise funds for such worthwhile causes”
The remaining eight riders set off on the Saturday morning at a more measured pace over two consecutive days, being waved off from Freemasons’ Hall in Leicester by the Provincial Grand Master R.W.Bro. David Hagger, Helen Lee-Smith from Rainbows, and many friends and family members.
The route for the first day took in the Masonic centres in Loughborough, Ashby, Coalville, Hinckley and Lutterworth, returning to Leicester for the overnight stop.
The following day the riders headed to the eastern side of the county, stopping at Market Harborough, Uppingham, Oakham, Melton Mowbray, and Syston before the final push back to Leicester. The ride all went to plan, without punctures or mechanical issues at all, and were greeted back at Freemasons’ Hall by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master V.W.Bro Peter Kinder, family, and friends.
Ride organiser W.Bro. Simon Oldfield from Wyggeston Lodge No.3448 said “We were delighted to have had such a fun time, for many of us it is a personal fitness challenge, riding with friends, and supporting each other, and fund raising at the same time, which is what Freemasonry is all about.”
The Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. David Hagger said: “We are all extremely proud of all of the riders for the efforts put in to raise such an incredible amount of money for worthy causes”