Call to join 'transformative' castle ride to help Blackpool charity

Blackpool Carers have launched a UK castle to castle bike ride following the success of last year's tower to tower epic to make it easier for people to take part.

The charity said last year's event had a transformative effect of those taking part, whether experienced "rouleurs" or those getting on a bike for the first time since childhood.

This year's ride, starting on July 30, to raise funds to help the thousands of unpaid carers the charity supports, will start at coastal castle Dunstanburgh in Northumberland.

Over three days and 158 miles, take the riders via Alnwick Castle, famous for its role in the Harry Potter films, Hadrian's Wall, Lowther Castle in Cumbria and ending at Lancaster Castle.

One of the riders taking part in the Blackpool Tower to Eiffel Tower ride was Sylwester Szreder who was a carer for his father in Poland before his death.

He said: "Back in Poland we don’t have services and support like the Carers Centre. We didn’t have any support outside of the home and family so there was never anyone to meet up with, to talk about my situation or to ask for advice.

"Children at school laughed at me because I was caring for my father and it wasn't easy to spend my younger years dealing with that. Here at the Blackpool Carers a young person can meet others in the same situation and forget for a moment about home and enjoy their childhood.

"They can speak to others, share experiences and support each other which really makes a difference and means a lot.”

Sylwester said the ride improved his own health when he took up cycling again years after an accident which knocked his confidence .

He said: “When I hit the age of 30 a few years ago my own health deteriorated. I was getting sick and feeling tired all of the time resulting in me visiting my doctor often.

"The training that I have done for the Tower to Tower ride has made me look at my health, eat better, made me fitter and I feel so much better in myself. I have found my love for cycling again. I’ve got my hobby back, and this amazing group of cyclists, whom now call friends, has given me my confidence back in spades.”

Julie Holland from Blackpool Carers said: "The team at Blackpool Carers’ could never have envisaged the impact last years’ Tower to Tower, Blackpool to Paris cycle challenge, had on so many of the riders who took part. From the experienced riders who were used to pounding out miles each weekend, to the ones who saw it as a chance to set a personal goal and of course, the ones who wanted to do something amazing for charity."

Anyone wishing to sign up to the Castle to Castle challenge for carers, then contact Terry Hodkinson on (01253) 393748.