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Riders give it heart and soul

Diane Leach
14/ 5/2008

SUNDAY’S sunshine saw more people than ever go for gold in the 10th Over the Edge.

Of the 400-plus cyclists who took part in the challenge, around half took on the arduous 55-mile route from Hollingworth Lake, over Blackstone Edge and into the East Lancashire and West Yorkshire moors.

Others opted for the silver and bronze routes, among them a number of families who rode together.

British Heart Foundation regional organiser Karen Swales said: "The weather was great and we had a lot of smiling faces, everyone enjoyed it.We had a couple of tandems and one guy rode with his spaniel, which sat in a little trailer on the back of his bike."

She said it was good to recognise a lot of regular riders, who take on the challenge year after year, as well as new faces.

Although the number of entrants was slightly down on last year, the charity hopes to meet its target of £20,000.

Karen said: "We raised £17,000 last year and think we can do it, if everyone gets their sponsorship money in."

Money raised by the Over the Edge riders will go to the charity’s Heartstart UK scheme to fund equipment, including life-saving defribillators, and training.