We’re inviting you, your family and friends, to get on your bike – or scooter, skateboard, trike, tandem, penny farthing, unicycle – to fundraise for Goodwill & Growth for Africa as part of a campaign to help save the UK’s charities.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on charities with thousands of events across the country have been cancelled, including Prudential RideLondon: the world’s greatest festival of cycling, which has raised more than £77 million for thousands of charities since it began in 2013.

While it can’t go ahead as planned this year, we are keeping the wheels moving and celebrating the festival weekend of 15 and 16 August with a virtual event: My Prudential RideLondon.

Its aim is to inspire and engage everyone, of all ages and abilities, to get on their bikes, scooters, skateboards, trikes, tandems, penny farthings, unicycles – in fact any form of non-motorised wheeled transport! – to raise much-needed funds so we can continue to support orphaned and vulnerable children in rural communities in southern Africa.

We’re asking you to join one of the challenges:

Ride 19 Raise £19 – if you can raise £19 for GAGA UK, we could provide 3 COVID-19 safety kits for a family of four (including compulsory face masks, gloves, disinfectant and hand sanitiser)

Ride 46 Raise £46 – if you can raise £46 for GAGA UK, we could provide a life-saving food hamper to 2 child-headed households

Ride 100 Raise £100 – if you can raise £100 for GAGA UK, we could provide 25 sets of PPE for frontline workers at our healthcare projects in KwaZulu Natal

Or Freecycle – just think up your own challenge and fundraising target and go for it!  £1.50 could buy a COVID-19 educational booklet & crayons for kiddies and £3.25 could buy a tray of seedlings for a granny to grow fresh veggies for her family.  Whatever you can raise can be used for good!

I'm in, are you? – just follow these four simple steps:

1. Register: visit myridelondon.co.uk and select your challenge. There are three cycling distances to choose from, or you can invent your own My FreeCycle wheeled challenge over 1km.
2. Fundraise: set up your fundraising page and let people know you’re supporting us so they can sponsor you.
3. Participate: set your wheels in motion and complete your challenge anywhere, at any time, over the weekend of 15 and 16 of August!
4. Nominate: encourage your family and friends to take part and help save the UK’s charities. Spread the word on social media too by using the hashtag #MyPRL when posting about the event.

You’ll find more information, ideas and inspiration, as well as advice on staying safe and cycling responsibly on the road, at myridelondon.co.uk

We hope you’ll be part of the world’s biggest festival of cycling to support Goodwill & Growth for Africa and help us to help some of the most disadvantaged communities in southern Africa.  Thanks to our friends at 1000 Hills Community Helpers for the photos. 

Claire