A FUNDRAISER which has raised thousands of pounds for a local charity is looking to break all records this year.

The Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Challenge, which supports Ryedale Special Families (RSF), has the highest number of entries since the event was launched in 2011.

Entry has been closed since the beginning of November last year with 325 people signing up and it promises to beat the £28,800 figure raised from the 2017 event.

The event has received a further boost this year with the attraction of an additional sponsor, Pro Pak Foods of Malton, bringing the total number of sponsors to eight.

This year’s Challenge takes place across the weekend of July 14 and 15, starting at Norton College, following the official 144-mile Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route, this year in a clockwise direction.

Organiser Rob Davies, who is the funding co-ordinator of RSF, said that despite the increase in popularity of cycling, he was still surprised just how popular the event has become since its inception in 2011.

“Our first year attracted just 63 riders and raised £7,000, a figure which we were well pleased with, but we never envisaged that seven years later we’d have become one of North Yorkshire’s foremost leisure cycling events,” he added.

“We attract a real cross section of riders and they come from far and wide too. This year we have a lady coming all the way from Australia to take part.”

Rob said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone for entering of course, but the event couldn’t take place without the help we receive from dozens of marshals, guardian angel riders, supporters and last but by no means least, our loyal sponsors Bannister’s Farm, Big Bear Bikes, Escada EFI, Inntravel, Kent Building Developments, MKM Malton, Pro Pak Foods and Wold Top Brewery.”