Cricket Stars to Embark on Epic Trek for Two Charities – 14/10/13 Cyclists over half way to target of £ 200,000 as they travel from Durham to Lord’s @Big_Bike_Ride After 18 months of planning, a host of past and present cricketers will finally embark on a mammoth bike ride this week in a bid to raise money for two of the game’s best-known charities. Organisers of the Big Bike Ride are aiming to raise £ 200,000 for the Tom Maynard Trust and PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust by cycling from Durham to Lord’s. They received a welcome boost at the weekend with the news that Ashes legend, Andrew Flintoff, will join them on the third leg of the trek. The ride, which starts on Friday 18 October, will see a host of cricketers, administrators and fans of the game cover the 441 miles in five days. In order to help riders, supporters can log on to their BT Donate pages here http://thepca.co.uk/confirmed-riders.html Along the way, riders will take in a number of England’s leading cricket grounds, including Chester-le-Street, Headingley, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge and Lord’s. They will depart Emirates ICG at 8am on Friday and will arrive at Headingley from 4pm onwards. They will then depart at the same time the following day, Saturday 19 October, on a gruelling cross-pennine leg to the Emirates Old Trafford. Sunday 20 October sees them leave for Trent Bridge in Nottingham, before Monday 21 October sees them make their way to Wantage Road, Northampton, via the County Ground in Derby and Leicestershire’s Grace Road. The final leg, starting at 8am on Tuesday 22 October, will see them leave Wantage Road for Lord’s where they are expected to arrive from 4pm onwards. Riders have already raised over £ 103,000 towards their target, but PCA Assistant Chief Executive, Jason Ratcliffe, who sits as a trustee of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust and the TMT, is keen to drum up more support. He commented, ” People have been very generous so far and we’re very grateful to everyone who has donated, no mater how small the contribution. ” But we’re asking fans of cricket who have not done so already to dig deep and support our riders for two fabulous causes that really need their support. ” The riders will be doing the hard work, but members of the public can join in too by pledging whatever they can.” To learn more about the charities, please see the following short videos PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust http://vimeo.com/64823556 Tom Maynard Trust http://vimeo.com/73291109 Among the current and former cricketers taking part are England hero Andrew Flintoff, international ODI and t20 star Jos Buttler, Somerset’s Marcus Trescothick, former England bowler, Alan Mullally, ex-New Zealand international, Hamish Marshall, Essex’s Graham Napier, Surrey’s Gareth Batty, Middlesex’s James Harris, and Durham’s Phil Mustard. They will be joined by a host of fellow County professionals and cricket administrators, including CEO and Chairman of Surrey CCC and Somerset CCC, Richard Gould, Richard Thompson, Guy Lavender and Andy Nash, as well as Tom’s father, former Glamorgan batsman, Matt Maynard. Tom Maynard Trust was set up in 2012 following the tragic loss of Surrey star Tom. It aims to help the development of aspiring, disadvantaged cricketers and other sportspeople requiring support in their careers. The Professional Cricketers’ Trust was founded by the PCA to help current and former players and their dependants in times of hardship, upheaval, or to readjust to the world beyond the professional game. The event is being generously supported by the headline sponsors Brewin Dolphin, alongside Trek Bycycle Coventry and Cotswold Cycles. Additional support is also being offered by Jaguar, who have donated 3 XF Sportsbrakes with roof racks, which will provide transport for the mechanics and support staff on the route each day. Follow the action on twitter @Big_Bike_Ride. To follow the route each day, visit www.thepca.co.uk/the-big-bike-ride-bf-tmt-2013.html For more information on the Tom Maynard Trust, visit http://www.tommaynardtrust.com/ For more information on the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust, visit https://www.thepca.co.uk/benevolent_fund.html or view the following video featuring Mark Nicholas http://vimeo.com/64823556#t=7. About our Sponsors: Brewin Dolphin is one of the UK’s largest independently-owned private client investment managers. They have 38 offices throughout the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, offering a wide range of financial services and have £ 28 billion under management. Their success is founded on their long track record of helping private clients, trusts, charities and pension funds to create and preserve wealth. Trek Bicycle Coventry is the largest sole Trek stockist in the Midlands. They are your home for everything Trek – not just bikes, clothing, parts, accessories, and spares; but also information and inspiration too! Their brand new, purpose-built store is located within Leekes Coventry, with 3,500 square feet of wall-to-wall Trek and other cycle-related products. Their ethos is providing the right advice to help you get the most from your cycling. Cotswold Cycles exists to support cyclists in the North Cotswolds with all their cycling related needs. Located in the Cotswold Business Village, Moreton-in-Marsh, they sell a comprehensive range of bikes, accessories and clothing. A full bike servicing, repair and custom-build service is available in their workshop, which is staffed by CYTECH-qualified mechanics. Buxton Water is the Official Water Supplier to the England cricket teams. The company, which first became an ECB partner in 2008, will continue as the exclusive supplier of bottled water to the England men’s and women’s cricket team for all home international matches until the end of the 2013 season. Jaguar is the official vehicle supplier of the England cricket team. All of England’s centrally contracted players drive one of their XJ, XK or XF models. Jaguar also has a strategic partnership with the ECB’s National Cricket Performance Centre. This association forms part of Jaguar’s long-term commitment to British sport under the umbrella of the ‘Jaguar Academy of Sport’, which aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. Here is the full list of past and present cricketers taking part in the Big Bike Ride: Gareth Batty Surrey CCC Matt Boyce Leicestershire CCC Jos Buttler Somerset CCC Dan Cherry Glamorgan CCC Matt Coles Kent CCC Dean Cosker Glamorgan CCC Richard Coughtrie Gloucestershire CCC Darren Cousins Essex CCC, Northants CCC & Kent CCC Lee Daggett Northants CCC Andrew Flintoff Lancashire CCC Darren Gough Yorkshire CCC & Essex CCC Richard Grant Glamorgan CCC James Harris Middlesex CCC David Harrison Glamorgan CCC Darren Maddy Warwickshire CCC Hamish Marshall Gloucestershire CCC Tim Mason Essex CCC Matt Maynard Glamorgan CCC Jaik Mickleburgh Essex CCC James Middlebrook Northants CCC Gary Montgomery Warwickshire CCC Alex Morris Hampshire CCC & Yorkshire CCC Alan Mullally Hampshire CCC & Leicestershire CCC Charlie Mulraine Warwickshire CCC Tony Murphy Lancashire CCC & Surrey CCC Phil Mustard Durham CCC Graham Napier Essex CCC Tim Phillips Essex CCC Ian Thomas Glamorgan CCC Marcus Trescothick Somerset CCC Mark Wallace Glamorgan CCC Matthew Wood Glamorgan CCC & Yorkshire CCC For more information, please call David Leatherdale on 07990558681 or email dleatherdale@thepca.co.uk {{ak_sharing}}
