Local businessman and Ilkley resident Simon Thomas and his friend Darren Hirst are hoping to raise £3,000 for Skipton-based The Principle Trust Children's Charity with a bike ride from Sheffield to Windermere this week.
It's the latest in a series of fundraising challenges for Simon, director of Greeholme Carpets and Flooring in Otley, who is a trustee of the charity.
The Principle Trust provides free respite holidays to children from across Yorkshire who are underprivileged, disadvantaged, disabled, have life-limiting conditions, or who have experienced poverty, trauma or abuse.
The two riders will set off from Sheffield City Hall on Thursday this week (31st March), heading to Stockbridge and New Mill before arriving in Huddersfield at lunchtime. From there, the route takes them to Halifax, Brighouse and over the gruelling cobbles of Haworth Main Street before arriving in Skipton at the end of Day 1.
On Friday (1st April) the pair will leave Skipton and head along the western edge of The Yorkshire Dales National Park to Gargrave, Giggleswick and Kirkby Lonsdale before arriving at White Cross Bay on the banks of Windermere, where some of the charity’s holiday lodges are based.
Simon, 61, said: “Over the past ten years the Trust has helped thousands of disadvantaged, disabled and poorly children to escape their everyday troubles and create valuable, happy memories. Every penny we raise will help The Trust to extend its services to families across the entire Yorkshire region.”
Donations can be made at localgiving.org/fundraising/miles-for-smiles/