Local Celebrity Will Gompertz to start the Mix96 Tour de Vale Charity Bike Ride on Sunday 9 June 2019
WheelPower, the National Charity for Wheelchair Sport, is delighted to announce that BBC Art Editor, Will Gompertz (based in Buckinghamshire) will start the Tour de Vale Charity Bike Ride at Stoke Mandeville Stadium on Sunday 9 June 2019. Will was previously director of Tate Media, and has written extensively for The Guardian and The Times newspapers.
Will is delighted to start Buckinghamshire’s biggest bike ride, and hopes the day will be a huge success, with three glorious routes (100k, 60k, and 25k) for participants to enjoy across scenic countryside all in aid of WheelPower to help provide life changing opportunities for disabled children and adults to play sport and be more active.
The 100k route was designed for experienced cyclists, the 60k is a challenging ride with a few steep hills, and the 25k is a fun ride for all the family which is free for under 16 year olds.
There are water stops on each route, marshals and support vehicles too to ensure your safety.
In addition to all the excitement on the day, Kris Aves who was injured in the terrorist attack on Westminster Bridge will present medals to all riders who finish the ride.
Kris has demonstrated his resilience and shared his story with us. In March 2017 Kriswas returning from a commendation ceremony with the Met police. As he crossed Westminster Bridge he was hit by the car driven by Khalid Massod in an attack which killed five people and injured many. Kris’s injuries put him in a coma for eight days. He had broken both his legs, had a head injury, a damaged shoulder, sternum and damage to his spinal cord. The attack left Kris needing to use a wheelchair, and with a permanent spinal injury. Following rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville, Kris attended our Inter Spinal Unit Games in 2018. Kris was delighted to win a medal in the nine ball pool competition and try many other sports. He is continuing his recovery at home with his family and sport is playing an important part in helping him see a positive future after his injury.
Martin McElhatton, Chief Executive of WheelPower said: “The Mix96 Tour de Vale is WheelPower’s largest fundraising event and we rely on the generosity of those taking part to help us raise much needed funds to support disabled people and provide life transforming opportunities in sport. By entering the ride people are helping WheelPower but if they can raise some additional funds through sponsorship this is a wonderful way of providing disabled children and adults with the change to access sport. Riders can also buy the Mix96 Tour de Vale Cycling Jerseys available and every purchase supports the charity. We want everyone to have a safe ride and we are again offering a Free of Charge – Bike Check on Saturday 8 June at Stoke Mandeville Stadium so your bike is in tip top condition. We look forward to welcoming everyone for what promises to be a wonderful ride and thank everyone for supporting the bike ride again this year.”
The Charity Bike Ride raises money for charity WheelPower and we ask each and every rider to support WheelPower by raising sponsorship for the charity.Please ask family, friends and work colleagues (many companies will match their employee’s fundraising), your local shop, gym or anyone else you can think of. Together we can change the lives of thousands of disabled children and newly injured adults, like Kris Aves.
