Event: 25-27 May 2013
Location: Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham
The inaugural Tour de Kent will take place this May raising money and awareness for heart charities Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and Take Heart Mercy Mission.
The Tour will start at Gillingham FC’s Priestfield Stadium before visiting football grounds all over the county. Gillingham footballers past and present along with other sporting celebrities have already signed up.
"The aim is to have that great time, the great camaraderie and sense of achievement and to raise tens of thousands for the charities"
Ride organiser Roger Maddams
Cyclists have the option of a three day ride covering 200 miles and 21 football grounds, with optional overnight accommodation provided. Alternatively they can opt for 50 miles in one day or a gentle 15 miles for novices.
With full medical, baggage transport and food services provided the event promises to be a great success and for a fantastic cause. The Tour de Kent has its own official cycling jersey from Foska and its own flapjack from Kent based Jackernuts.
The event is taking part on 25-27 May as part of the Medway Festival of Sport 2013 and has full support from Medway Council.
Ride organiser Roger Maddams said: “The event, as with many great ideas, started over a drink at a party, this time with Gillingham FC Development Coach Mark Patterson. We both discovered we liked cycling, football and good times so the initial idea was for a few friends to ride round a few football grounds and raise a few pounds for charity. I thought about it, got the maps out, got to work and now we have a full blown event that will attract at least 300 riders including 110 on the 3 day stage option. The aim is to have that great time, the great camaraderie and sense of achievement and to raise tens of thousands for the charities.”
Further details of the ride can be found at www.tourdekent13.co.uk. Ride numbers are strictly limited for the 3 day option, due to hotel room numbers available at the overnight stop destinations of Margate and Maidstone.
