Mayor on mission with bike ride for chosen charities

THE Mayor of Henley will hold a charity bike ride next Saturday in aid of his three chosen charities.

Councillor Tom Buckley, of Greys Road, has organised the ride as the first of a series of fundraising events to raise money for Lowland Rescue, the Chiltern Centre and the Nomad youth and community project.

Residents are invited to join the 20-mile ride which will start at 9.30am and follow a scenic route through the Chilterns.

The route will follow quiet roads and bridleways to make it suitable for people of varied cycling abilities and will start and finish in Market Place, where there will be a barbecue, refreshments and craft beer provided by Henley businesses.

The route will be signposted along the way.

Cllr Buckley chose the charities for his year in office when he was elected as mayor in May after he pledged to help families struggling with the cost of living in Henley and to help young people.

He said: “This bike ride is inspired by a similar ride that helped forge lasting friendships within our community. It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase the beauty of Henley and to support three incredible charities that make a real difference to people’s lives.

“Whether you’re riding or cheering us on, every bit of support helps. It is about bringing people together.

“It’s about celebrating what makes Henley such a caring and connected town and turning that goodwill into practical help for others.”

The bike ride is the first of four charity events forming part of “The Mayor’s Mission”, a year-long initiative celebrating Henley’s community through shared experiences and giving.

The other events are a literary competition in December, for which the date and venue is to be confirmed, a town hall club night in February and a food festival in March.

Registration costs £45. To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/43x5ej78 or to make a donation, visit tinyurl.com/3vf5dwae