Every time Harry Stevens and his family drove past the Tour de Moor billboard he would always ask to take part, desperate to join the experienced cyclists as they took on the epic rides across Dartmoor, but always being just a little bit too young for the longer routes.
Finally, for the first time, it is Harry’s time to ride, the now 9-year-old can ride alongside his dad on our adventurer style 28km route on Sunday.
Harry, who goes to Elburton Primary School, is an avid cyclist, learning to ride his bike up on the Hoe when he was just 3-years-old. Getting out on his bike at every opportunity, honing his skills and getting the practise in.
Harry’s mum Laura Stevens said: “Harry loves cycling. We try to cycle as much as possible and you’ll often see Harry cycling up to school several times a week. For the last 2-3 years we’ve driven past the St Luke’s advert for the Tour De Moor and Harry has been desperate to give the challenge a go but was too young, so this year he asked us to sign him up as soon as he saw the adverts up again! He can’t wait for Sunday and was very excited when his number came through the post last week.”
Being a GP, Laura has seen firsthand the impact that St Luke’s has when it comes to providing end of life care. She even did some of her GP training at our specialist unit at Turnchapel.
“The St Luke’s team are an invaluable support for so many of my patients who need symptom control with chronic illness and are approaching the end of their life, providing amazing care for them at really challenging times.”
One of the first things the family did once they had signed up was to set up a JustGiving page. Many people don’t realise that your registration fee for our Tour de Moor only covers the costs of running the event. It is the money you can raise in sponsorship that really makes the difference. Harry has been hard at work getting donations and has already raised almost £400 for our patient care.
Laura added: “St Luke’s is a charity very close to all of our hearts. It is great that Harry is able to support them this weekend and he is really proud of his fundraising so far and very grateful to everyone who has sponsored him.
“He can’t wait to get out there with his dad on Sunday and take on the challenge!”
Our Tour de Moor is sponsored by Print, Copy Scan Ltd, part of The Anglotech Group. Over 1,000 of you are set to take to the wilds of Dartmoor on Sunday, taking part in the boldest ride the South-West has seen. Riders of all ages will be taking on either the 11km Mini-moor (suitable for the whole family), the 28km Adventurer style route (9 years and older) or the 53km Beast Mode (12 years and older).
If you have a spot for Sunday’s event, then don’t forget to set up your fundraising page and see how much you can raise. Did you know that if every Tour de Moor cyclist commits to raising at least £100, we’ll collectively have enough to care for 100 families at home at the most crucial of times? It’s not too late to ask your friends and family for sponsorship – even after you have completed the event.
What’s more if you raise over £100 in sponsorship and have paid it in by 29 November 2024 you will be entered into a draw to win exciting prizes from Certini Bicycle Company.
If you missed out on this year’s event why not show your support and sponsor a friend? Meanwhile, keep an eye out for details on next year’s event coming soon.
BLOG: Big-hearted cyclists conquer Dartmoor for hospice care