PEDAL-POWERED fundraisers – many with learning difficulties – saddled up and put their stamina to the test in aid of charity.

More than 50 people took part in the sponsored bike ride yesterday with the aim of raising hundreds of pounds for the Lord Mayor of York’s chosen good causes.

This year, these are York Against Cancer, a charity which funds services and facilities to improve the lives of people affected by cancer in the city, and Brunswick Organic Nursery and Craft Workshop, in Bishopthorpe, which provides work and training opportunities for adults with learning difficulties.

Participants – including some walkers – chose between a six and 12-mile route along a stretch of the York to Selby cycle path, starting and finishing at Brunswick.

Among the fundraisers who completed the full 12 miles was 82-year-old Peter Beal, who has been working in the gardens at Brunswick since the nursery opened 16 years ago.

The green-fingered pensioner cycles to work from his Acomb home three times a week, and has no plans of retiring just yet.

It was Peter who came up with the idea of holding a bike ride for workers at Brunswick ten years ago, and the event quickly became an annual tradition.

“I feel proud that it’s still going on today,” he said. “I just love Cycling.”

Another worker to join Peter on yesterday’s ride was David Watson, 23, from Huntington, whose job at Brunswick is to help with gardening projects in the community.

“It’s been really good fun today,” he said.

“I think I’m going to raise about £60.” Some of the fundraisers from Brunswick with more severe physical or learning difficulties used specialist bikes adapted for their use.

The bikes were provided by the community interest company Get Cycling, and included tricycles and a “social tandem”, which allows two people to ride while sitting side-by-side.

Event organiser Jennifer Aitken, who is deputy manager at Brunswick, said: “The ride has been a huge success and I think everybody has really enjoyed it.

“It has been great how our workers really pushed themselves and found they could cycle. Quite a few of them even managed the full 12 miles.”

If anybody would like to make a donation to the Lord Mayor’s charities, cheques must be made payable to Lord Mayor of York’s Charities and sent to Civic Services, Guildhall, York, YO1 9QN.