Thank you Ride for Eric

Ride for Eric raises over £10,000 to support local families

On Sunday 21st September more than 370 keen cyclists gathered together at Abbeydale Sports Club for the inaugural Ride for Eric. With routes for all abilities the ride saw everyone from club cyclists to novices and family groups take on the challenge and remember Sheffield man Eric Codling, who was killed by a reckless driver while out on his regular Sunday morning cycle ride last November, whilst highlighting the need for safe space for cycling and raising money for local charity Cavendish Cancer Care.

Today the organisers are delighted to announce that the Ride has raised over £10,000, Eamonn Hunt from the organising committee said ‘when we first thought of doing a cycle ride in Eric’s honour we never dreamt we would see so many people turning out on the day and raising so much money, Eric would be proud of everyone who helped make the event the fantastic success it was’.

Starting at 9.30am, and coordinated by the Racing TNT Triathlon Team and a small army of volunteer marshals, riders left Abbeydale Sports Club to complete a circular route, taking a moment to pause while passing the ghost bike on Whirlowdale Road which marks the spot where Eric was knocked off his bike, before returning home to a warm welcome and well deserved pie and peas.

Cycle Sheffield led the 6k family route with music and marshals ensuring everyone could cycle on the roads in safety and ensure all road users could enjoy the day.

The money raised will be used to set up a new bereavement service at Cavendish Cancer Care, who supported Eric’s family after his death. Chief Executive Chris Farrell said ‘helping over 1,500 families every year come to terms with a cancer diagnosis we know all too well how someone’s untimely death can turn the whole families world upside down so we are delighted to be able to use the money raised in Eric’s name to support more families when they need us and provide a lasting tribute to Eric’.

A prize for the top fundraiser for each distance was generously supplied by Williams Electrical with Angelina Perrett completing the 50k route and taking home a Digital Camera, Geoff Schrecker topping the fundraising on the 16k and winning a new Tablet and Dianne Norman, the highest fundraiser on the 6k, a DAB Digital Radio.

Karen Codling, Eric’s wife, said ‘seeing the difference this year’s event has made has been a real comfort to the whole family so we’ve decided this needs to be an annual event. As such we are delighted to announce the 2015 ride will take place on Sunday 12^th July’.

The Ride for Eric organisers would like to thank everyone involved in making the 2014 ride such a success and especially Richard Putland of Williams Electrical, Julie Lister of Abbeydale Sports Club,Matt Norris of TNT Triathlon, Alex Tilbury of Irwin Mitchell, Gemma Daniels of Hydra Creative, Heather Marriott of Sytner BMW, Joe and Marishka of Humbledinger, Adam Simmonite of JE James, Michael Lee of MiTo Physiotherapy, Mick and Emma at CycleSheffield, Stephen at Network Rail and Eamonn Hunt of VeryCreative without whose support the event would not have been possible.

You can sign up for the 2015 event at: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/121417/Ride-for-Eric