Dewsbury cyclists to put pedal to the metal and raise £20k for Yemen charity

On Saturday, Dewsbury MP Mark Eastwood will join up with a cycling team to ride 75 miles from Dewsbury to York Minster in an attempt to raise the funds.

The cyclists from Dewsbury’s Team Ride, which will start in Savile Town, have partnered with charity One Nation charity and have set a target of £20,000.

Irfan Mohamed, Team Ride’s founder and cycling development officer, said: “We combined our two passions: cycling and charity work to raise money for this cause.

“Our club’s ethos is one of inclusivity and all abilities riding.

“We’re not about serious competition - we’re about what cycling can offer beyond bikes and operate on a strong value of civic responsibility.

“It’s about giving back and the charity fundraiser fell perfectly in that bracket.”

Many of the cyclist are new or returning to the sport and have never attempted a long-distance ride.

Mr Mohamed said the team were motivated by seeing the desperate and worsening plight of innocent civilians in the war-torn country.

He said: “We started three years ago with a group of friends who rode together regularly and it’s blossomed from that to a 90-strong member group.

“All of them are combining to bring happiness to impoverished people.”

MP Mr Eastwood (inset), who will be joining the cyclists for the launch this weekend, said “ I’m looking to joining the members of the cycling club on the first leg of the journey to York, in aid of this great cause.

“Since it set up Team Ride have done a fantastic job in not only promoting the health benefits of cycling, but bringing communities together and they should be commended for this, along with their amazing charity work.”

The team originally set out to raise £10,000 but thanks to the generosity of the people within Kirklees, the team’s sponsors surpassed that and have now reviewed the target to £20k.

The sponsors include Highgate Beds, Kiddies Kingdom, Norbake, and all donors for an ‘outstanding effort’, said Mr Mohamed.

If you would like to donate any money, visit: www.givebrite.com/teamride4yemen