Cyclists from across the UK will return to the Isle of Wight next month for the 9th annual Ride For Hope in aid of Brain Tumour Research.
The Brain Tumour Research Ride For Hope 2026 is set to take place on Saturday 6th June, bringing together riders raising money and awareness in memory of loved ones lost to brain tumours.
The event was founded by 58-year-old Simon Tier from Fareham, who has now raised more than £100,000 for the charity after losing 5 close friends to brain cancer since 2014.
Simon said:
“Having already lost five friends to brain cancer has been devastating, not just for me but for their families whose lives were turned upside down.
“Watching them face it with such courage left a lasting mark on me. When the ride gets tough, I think of them and their strength, and it keeps me going. This is for them, and for everyone still fighting.”
Organisers say participant numbers are lower than in previous years and are urging more cyclists to sign up and support the event.
Among those remembered this year is Richard Preston, 56, from Waterlooville, who died in August 2025 following a battle with glioblastoma. Diagnosed in 2013, Richard underwent a 5-hour operation followed by intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surviving more than a decade after his diagnosis.
Richard had become a familiar figure at the Ride For Hope event over several years.
Simon added:
“Losing Richard was incredibly hard for all of us. He was such a huge part of The Brain Tumour Research Ride For Hope and an inspiration to everyone who met him.
“His loss is a stark reminder of why we do this. Brain tumours take far too much, far too soon, and that’s why it’s so important we keep this event going.”
Cyclists can choose from several routes around the Isle of Wight, including the 68-mile ‘Vectis Gladiator’, the 100-mile ‘Vectis Centurion’ and the demanding 136-mile ‘Vectis Gladiator Dual’.
Returning participant Simon Warren, from Hampshire, rides each year in memory of his friend’s daughter Brooke, who died from a brain tumour aged just 11.
Letty Greenfield, Community and Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said:
“The Brain Tumour Research Ride For Hope is a powerful example of what can be achieved when a community comes together with purpose.
“We’re also calling on the wider cycling community to sign up and support the event – every participant plays a crucial role in helping to drive forward research and bring hope to those affected by this devastating disease.”
Brain Tumour Research says brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.
Such a shame there are no cycle lanes on the island
for cyclists to use, instead they use island roads to cycle.
Maybe now is the time to install cycle lanes on the
island for cyclists.