CYCLISTS are wanted to take part in a bike ride to support a York charity.

The Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS), will host its annual bike ride later this year to raise awareness and funds for the charity, which helps hundreds of people across York and North Yorkshire each year.

Last year, 100 cyclists took part in the event, and for this year’s bike ride on Sunday, May 28, the charity is hoping to attract even more.

This year’s event will also see a party in Rowntree Park, hosted by the Bike Belles, where the bike rides start and finish, to mark the charity’s partnership with the #WalkCycleFestival which starts on the day of the bike ride.

Sheridan Piggot, chair of the community cycle group Bike Belles, said: “We are delighted that IDAS is our charity partner, helping to launch York’s first Beautiful City #walkcyclefestival.

“It’s going to be a great ride – there’s a range of distances so most people can join in and enjoy the opportunity to take in the beauty of one or two of Yorkshire’s most historic houses, on two wheels. We’ll wave you off and welcome you back with music and cake from our community party in Rowntree Park.”

In recent years, the sponsored cycle - which includes two routes of 25 and 50 miles setting off from York’s Millennium Bridge - has helped raise £12,000 for the charity.

Sarah Hill, CEO of IDAS, said: The cycle ride is an important fundraising and awareness-raising event for IDAS. Every person who takes part will tell their friends and family helping to get the message out there that there is support available, as well as raising money for children’s services.” To find out more, or to apply to take part in the event, go to idas.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise

Donations can be made at justgiving.com/idas or by texting IDAS00 followed by the amount you want to give to 70070, and Gift Aid of 25 per cent can also be added using this system.