SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, is calling keen cyclists from the Isle of Wight to ‘Ride to The Somme’ in honour of the local cycling soldiers from Isle of Wight Rifles that died during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
The 4-day event will raise vital funds for SSAFA, the UK’s oldest national military charity, and the closing date to sign up is Friday 10th June 2016. Currently the team is 60 riders strong however the charity is looking to secure a total of 100 riders.
100 years ago this summer, on 1st July 1916, the allies took on a major offensive against the German Army, and after heavy artillery pounded the German lines the allied soldiers went ‘over the top’. On that first day of the Battle of The Somme the British Army suffered 60,000 casualties. By November the Allies had advanced 5 miles with 1 million men from both sides killed or injured.
At the outbreak of World War I, the Government called on SSAFA to take care of the families of the Armed Forces going to the front line. Money raised via Ride to the Somme will go towards helping servicemen and women, veterans and their families in need today following recent conflicts.
When riders enlist, they will be asked to select a Cycling Battalion from World War 1 that they wish to represent, these are The Norfolk Regiment, The Suffolk Regiment, The Royal Sussex Regiment, The Essex Regiment, The Kent Cyclist Battalion, The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment, The Northern Cyclist Battalion, The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), The Highland Cyclist Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, Isle of Wight Rifles, The Hampshire Regiment and The Welsh Regiment.
Those that enlist will meet at The Imperial War Museum on 31st August and travel to France, cycling 250 miles over 4 days visiting cemeteries which have graves of soldiers from the Army Cycling Corps, before reaching The Thiepval Memorial – The Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, on Saturday 3rd September which marks the 72,195 British and African soldiers with no known grave.
Event details:
• Event date: Wednesday 31st August 2016 to Saturday 4th September 2016
• Distance: approx. 250 miles
• Ability: Intermediate level and above
• Registration: £200 per person
• Fundraising target: £1,300 per person
SSAFA is the oldest national military charity in the UK and its network of around 6,500 volunteers supports some 55,000 serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families each year. SSAFA runs St Vincent’s Residential Care Home near Ryde.
To sign up before the end of business on Friday 10th June visit www.ridetothesomme.org.uk/enlist, where more information can also be found.
