Rider completes 12-hour endurance challenge for cycling charity

Cycle lead Gareth Jones rode 200 laps of the New Park showground, near Brockenhurst, on Wednesday, September 18, from 7am to 7pm. His dawn-to-dusk ride saw him cover more than 180km, averaging nearly 17 laps every hour.

The Pass the PEDALL event saw hundreds of riders and volunteers join Gareth, using PEDALL’s fleet of specialist bikes and their own. Regular PEDALL riders from Minstead Trust, Tiptoe Primary School, and New Forest MENCAP were among the groups participating.

New Forest National Park Authority and Forestry England rangers also stopped by to lend support. Thousands of pounds were raised through donations and sponsors, including Chase the Sun and JP Morgan.

Donations can still be made through the PEDALL website. Pass the PEDALL aims to raise £5,000 to support 500 new riders, cover ongoing project costs, fund ride leaders, and maintain the charity’s cycle fleet.

It also aims to boost community awareness and attract more volunteers and supporters. PEDALL is a partnership between the New Forest National Park Authority and Friends of PEDALL, with support from the NHS and Forestry England.

It is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and other supporters, including South Western Railway.

PEDALL operations lead, Gareth Jones, said after his ride: "I feel surprisingly okay, but my knees are a bit sore and my legs are a bit tight. We have been very lucky with the weather. It’s been a bit windy but the sun’s been out and perfect.

"The support has been amazing. It’s heartwarming to know that PEDALL and the event mean a lot to people – they genuinely appreciate what we do and I don’t think we’d be able to do these things without them, let alone without all the volunteers and the backing of partners like the National Park Authority and other businesses.

"We really wouldn’t be able to do it without our actual riders, so it’s great that so many came along. I just want to say a huge thank you for the support."