The renowned Cynthia Spencer event, Cycle4Cynthia, is proudly celebrating its 20th year, marking a significant milestone since its inception in 2003. Started by John Pinkham and a group of friends from what began as a fundraising cycle for the hospice, the event has grown. It now attracts hundreds of participants and, over the years, has encompassed some of the county’s most attractive stately homes including Althorp House, Kelmarsh Hall, Cottesbrooke Hall and Holdenby House.
With an impressive fundraising total of over £750,000 for the hospice in the past two decades, Cycle4Cynthia has become one of the most prominent events on the charity’s calendar. John’s daughter, Natalie Pinkham, an F1 television presenter, is proud of her father’s initiative, which began as a personal passion project.
“I’m immensely proud of my dad and his dedication to Cycle4Cynthia. This event merges his two great passions: fundraising and cycling and it has inspired countless individuals to get involved.”
John Pinkham recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and despite battling dementia he remains passionate about the event he started 20 years ago.
Pip Schanchieff, one of the cyclists in the inaugural Cycle4Cynthia event in 2003, shared her experience of taking part in the event back in 2003:
“I had just recovered from a double hip replacement; I can’t believe I did it! The challenge was incredible, and it was a fantastic experience. It is truly astonishing to witness the event’s tremendous growth.”
Each year, the event attracts a multitude of riders from across the county, with five, 10, 25, and 50-mile routes to cater to individuals of all ages and abilities. Many participants eagerly return annually to take part in the event. The five-mile route is particularly appealing to families and children with its safe, closed-road course, ensuring a family-friendly experience for younger participants. To commemorate the event’s 20th anniversary, the hospice aims to recruit 1,000 Hospice Heroes, each committed to fundraising £100 to raise £100,000 – enough to fund 200 days of patient care at the hospice.
Cynthia Spencer Hospice offers a diverse range of services to support individuals facing life-limiting conditions. In addition to palliative end-of-life care, the hospice provides outpatient and wellbeing services, enabling individuals to enjoy their lives to the fullest despite the challenges posed by ill-health. Every year the hospice needs to raise a total of over £2m, equivalent to over £6,000 per day, to sustain the vital services it offers in Northampton and across West Northamptonshire.
This year’s event takes place on September 17 and will be hosted at Holdenby House.
The event presents numerous sponsorship opportunities for businesses for this year’s event, to find out more contact Nina Gandy at nina@cynthiaspencer.co.uk
For further information, including registration details, visit the official website at www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk or email sarah@cynthiaspencer.co.uk
