Clia urges more people to sign up for annual fundraising bike ride

Clia and cruise leaders have urged more riders to sign up to take part in its annual bike ride in the New Forest

The organisation has organised an annual cycle ride to coincide with its conference in Southampton for the last 10 years, and has raised around £60,000 for the Family Holiday Charity in that time.

Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast, Giles Hawke, vice-president of international sales for Celebrity Cruises and organiser of the event, said they were looking to raise £10,000 from the event to coincide with the anniversary, and “would love more people to join us”.

He said the ride had been “much more inclusive” this year with a range of three distances to appeal to all ability levels.

Hawke added the ride had reached a record number of riders, with 53 people signed up evenly spread across all distances at the last count, but more people were welcome.

He added people did not need to have their own bike to take part, with bike hire options available, and sign-ups needed to take place by May 15 at the latest.

Hawke emphasised: “It is not a race, just a lovely morning out in the New Forest.”

He added there were opportunities for those to be support drivers if they are not able to cycle, and in addition there is the option to sign up for a 5km charity run around the park in Southampton which will take place on June 5 at 7.30am.

Harmer said that any money raised will go to “a good cause” which will “make an instant difference”, adding that the Family Holiday Charity did “amazing work” enabling families to go away together.

“It has a lasting effect on the welfare of those families because they really have a chance to connect,” he said.