Cycling 200 Miles For Charity - Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride 2022

The Connection at St Martin’s helps thousands of people every year to move away from, and stay off, the streets of London. This is by tackling the underlying causes of rough sleeping as well as offering practical help. St Martin-in-the-Fields has always remained open for the people it serves, even through times of hardship such as the Blitz. It has always been more than simply a parish church, str

iving to be a sanctuary for worshipers and also provide social justice for marginalised communities and people experiencing homelessness. Today, it continues to support those most vulnerable throughout the nationwide Covid-19 Emergency, whilst The Connection works round the clock supporting people during the outbreak. It supports around 200 homeless and vulnerable people every day and night, to help them on a journey away from living on the streets and back into society. In “normal” times...

The QECR is a 4-day sponsored cycle ride, which takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend every year. The 200-mile route follows quiet roads through glorious countryside from Harby, near Lincoln, to London, and links the locations of the 12 Queen Eleanor Crosses, which Edward 1 built in memory of his wife Eleanor of Castile, after she died in Harby in 1290. It’s organised by the Friends of the Connection at St Martin’s, and its whole purpose is to raise funds to support the work of the Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields, based just off Trafalgar Square. There is no required sponsorship target, but in recent years the average raised by each cyclist has been between £500 and £1,000. But in this changed world of Coronavirus and social distancing we’ve needed to do things differently. In 2020 we kept alive the spirit of Queen Eleanor by cycling in relay over the 4 days of August Bank Holiday along the route of the Queen Eleanor Crosses down to London and Westminster Abbey. Going two by two and keeping our distance, we took a cross, carved of ash grown on the site of Harby Manor where Queen Eleanor died and passed it from cyclist to cyclist until we reached Westminster Abbey, where the cross was placed on Queen Eleanor’s tomb. For 2021 there were three options raising over £30,000:

THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE 200 miles cycling from Harby, where Queen Eleanor died in 1290, and following the route of the Queen Eleanor Crosses to Charing Cross in London. The ride starts on Friday morning and ends at Westminster Abbey on Monday, followed by a celebration. Overnight stops are in Grantham, Geddington and Dunstable. Day cyclists are also welcome. All meals and lots of cake provided, plus transport for luggage and back up, with accommodation in church and village halls. 30 places are available. Regular cyclists aged 18 or over are welcome; younger cyclists can take part if accompanied by a responsible adult. You will cycle in small groups chosen according to speed, led by a cyclist who is familiar with the route. CYCLE 200 MILES CLOSE TO HOME The challenges of 2020 meant that last year people stayed at home but still committed to cycling 200 miles in aid of those on the street. SET YOUR OWN CYCLING GOAL Last year one fundraiser did 200 miles in a day, whilst two young boys, aged 6 and 8, completed 200 miles in their summer holidays. The choice of routes is yours to make. If you can do it safely and within guidelines, do involve a friend or two. If you can cycle a stage of the usual traditional route, then brilliant. If not, at least your supporting a great cause and helping the Connection to keep its doors open by raising sponsorship. Now in 2023 it’s all systems go!!