The family-friendly event, which takes place on Sunday 24 May, offers participants the opportunity to cycle around some of Jersey’s most beautiful scenery while raising money for a charity.
- Founded in 1977 by Jack Le Quesne and Ann Frost, the Jersey branch is one of the most active and among the highest contributors of the groups nationally, having won numerous awards at the Amnesty International UK annual general meeting in recognition of its fundraising and campaigning work.
- The group members describe their key aims as upholding the Charter of Human Rights, campaigning for the release of prisoners of conscience and opposing torture and the death penalty.
- The groups annual Human Rights Festival is now an established part of the local cultural calendar, while eight youth and student groups have been established at local schools to help educate students about Amnestys work.
- All money raised from the event goes towards Amnestys work defending human rights, protecting lives and bringing the guilty to justice.
As always, there will be three routes from which to choose: the family ride (10km or 20 km), the half-Island ride (36 km) and the all-Island ride (70 km).
The family ride, suitable for all age-groups, begins at the Maritime Museum and gives participants the option of following the cycle track to St Aubin and back, or continuing up the Railway Walk.
The route for the half-Island ride goes east along the coast road to just before St Catherine, then up along the north-coast lanes to Les Platons, then down country lanes to the War Tunnels and back to the museum.
The full-Island ride route ventures anti-clockwise around Jersey avoiding the north-coast hills, opting instead for Jersey’s scenic lanes and stunning coastal views.
The Freedom Cycle Ride is open to all ages – previous participants have ranged from eight to 80 years old – and marshals will be on hand on the day to provide cyclists with encouragement and high-energy refreshments.
Tea and home-made cakes will also be available at the finish line.
Registration forms are now available for individual riders, groups, families and company teams and can be found, alongside maps and ride details, here.
Participants are advised to register beforehand, although registrations will be accepted on the day.
Ready to roll for the round-Island walk
AS hundreds of Islanders are gathering for the start of the 48-mile Collas Crill IslandWalk on 20 June, two men will be at St Catherine beginning a marathon of their own.
34,024.6 – total number of miles walked by everyone who finished
2,952 – number of miles clocked up by Lieutenant Governor’s Challenge finishers
646 (74%) – number of registered main walkers who finished.
246 (85%) – number of walkers registered for Lieutenant Governor’s Challenge who finished
8 – The age of the youngest walker in the main walk
74 – the age of the oldest walker in the main walk
At 2 am on that date, Justin Pledger and Marian Creagna will be setting up barbecues and cooking 2,500 pieces of bacon to provide breakfast for the walkers at that checkpoint.
Justin, who owns Lacerta Restaurant at Les Ormes Leisure Centre, has organised the bacon roll stop for the past three years, with the food being donated by an anonymous well-wisher who delivers it to him the afternoon before.
‘The first walkers usually start arriving at about 4.30 am and we just keep going – it does get a bit frantic at times,’ said Justin, who last year did not bother going to bed the night before because he had a function at Les Ormes on the Friday evening.
And this year, he will be returning to Les Ormes at about 8.30 am to prepare for a wedding function.
Married with three young children, he volunteered to help with the Walk because he used to be a member of the Rotary Club of Jersey, who are heavily involved in the organisation.
- The three main recipients of the funds raised by the walk usually receive about £20,000.
- They represent the areas of environment, age and illness, and young people.
- The three chosen for 2015 are the National Trust for Jersey (for work to improve coastal paths), the Parkinsons Disease Society of Jersey (also celebrating its 25th anniversary) and Centre Point (to install artificial grass on which the children can play).
- Other charities which will also receive donations this year are Jersey Heart Support, Grace Trust, BeachAbility, Shopmobility, Family Nursing and Home Care, Macmillan Cancer Support Group, Helping Wings, the Abbeyfield Association, Glanville Home and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
- To date, the Walk has raised a total of £1.9 million which has been split between a number of local charities.
‘It’s nice to help,’ he said. ‘And I admire all these people who do the walk – I don’t think I could do it.’
This year the Walk is celebrating its 25th year and the organisers are hoping to break the £2 million mark for the total amount of money raised.
A new relay section has been introduced for Islanders who don’t feel up to tackling the full distance, and all team members will be equipped with a GPS device to allow fellow members and family and friends to track their progress.
The event will start, as usual, at the Elizabeth Terminal at 3 am.
The three chosen charities for 2015 are the National Trust for Jersey, the Parkinson’s Disease Society of Jersey and Centre Point.
Other charities which will also receive donations are Jersey Heart Support, Grace Trust, BeachAbility, Shopmobility, Family Nursing and Home Care, Macmillan Cancer Support Group, Helping Wings, the Abbeyfield Association, Glanville Home and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
For more information about the Collas Crill Island Walk, assisted by Rotary de la Manche, and to register online, click here
Madeira medals for marathon quartet
FOUR Islanders came away with trophies after completing the Funchal Marathon and half-marathon in Madeira last month.
In the 26.2-mile race, John du Feu won his age-group (60-64) in 3 hr 26 min 40 sec and Ana Goncalves, who is training for the gruelling Marathon des Sables in April, won her age-group (45-49) in 3.48.40.
In the half-marathon, Joao Afonso was pleased to finish third in his age group (60-64), but a little disappointed with his time of 1.47, while Sergio da Silva was delighted to repeat his success of last year by winning his age category (70+) in 1.58.
Sergio, who is hoping to make it a hat- trick of wins next year, said that the weather was good with hazy sunshine and a light breeze but the course was tough, undulating with several loops.
‘It was an unexpected win because I struggled to overcome illness and injury in the last two months,’ he said.
Ana also found the course tough, adding: ‘It was mentally very tiring because of the number of loops on the run, but otherwise we had perfect running conditions.’
Jodie Perkins has had her long hair cut off – and has raised £457 for charity as a result.
The seven-year-old went along with mum Sarah to Ella Hair and Beauty in Don Street for the cut.
She was raising money for Little Princess Trust, a charity which provides wigs for children who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment
