CYCLISTS of all ages and abilities got on their bikes and pedalled through Furness and south Cumbria in aid various charities.

The 21st Tour de Furness saw some 550 people take to two wheels on Sunday.

The cycling event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Rotary Club of Furness and it once again hopes to generate in excess of £40,000 to help charities and good causes.

The events started and finished at Roose Conservative Club with cyclists heading out on four rides over five, 13, 23 and 50-mile rides. The five-mile route followed the coastal cycle path to Rampside, while the 50-mile route took the coast road to Ulverston and then on to Coniston.

Cyclists rode out in warm sunshine but faced cross winds on the coast road.

Geoff James, of The Rotary Club of Furness, said "The day has been a great success. We will raise a significant amount of money for the charities."

Mr James thanked all the sponsors, the Roose Conservative Club and all those who work on the event.

Cyclists spoke of the friendly atmosphere along the route; however they and the organisers condemned the actions of someone who had thrown drawing pins onto part of the route, including near Rampside and Aldingham.

Mr James said: "We are very disappointed that someone should do such a thing. We had to go and clear the road. It was an inconvenience but it had no impact. We did inform the police."

Cyclists could either raise money for St Mary's Hospice, their own chosen charity, or for the Rotary Club of Furness to distribute sponsorship to various good causes and charities. The Rotary takes 20 per cent of funds from cyclists choosing the first two options to give to a collection of causes.

The Call the Midwife team were out on the 50-mile route, made up of more than 30 staff and friends from the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

The team, who included midwives, were raising money to kick-start a £250,000 appeal to buy extra items for the new maternity unit which is being built at Furness General Hospital in Barrow. The cycling team was led by Sascha Wells, head of midwifery for the trust.

Fellow cyclist, Lynne Wyre, deputy chief nurse at FGH, said: "It was a really nice route through Coniston. Everyone has been so supportive along the way."

Joseph Cush, 11, of Barrow took on the 23-mile route. He said: "It was good and quite challenging and hard. I'm raising money for the hospice. This is the first time I've done the ride and I will do it again next year."

Sisters Evie and Maya Botterill, five and seven, and siblings Simon and Rebecca Duckworth, also five and seven, and of Ulverston, took on the five-mile route with their mums Alison Botterial, 36, and Kerry Duckworth, 33.

Mrs Duckworth, who ran the route with them, said: "It's a good local event for charities and it's good for the kids to be active and outside enjoying themselves."

*See more pictures and reaction from the riders in the Evening Mail on Monday.

Click here for the Go Active in Cumbria website http://www.goactiveincumbria.com/


Fancy a free group cycle ride - here are some coming up in Cumbria