IN SEPTEMBER, Dept 26 Bude Mountain Bike Riders Cycling Club will be endeavouring to ride 106 miles coast to coast, from Shaldon in South Devon back to Bude in North Cornwall.

This challenge will be off-road, as much as possible, including a traverse of Dartmoor. They will be following Sustrans cycle routes, Bridleways and dedicated cycle trails for the entire route.

This is a real challenge and one not to be taken lightly, and to add to the difficulty, they are planning to do this in only two days.

The big day is Saturday, September 9 when after 40 difficult miles across the moor, they will stay overnight before the group start the homeward leg the following morning and finish in Bude on September 10.

There are 20 local riders from Bude taking on this challenge for the cause that is very close to the club. Although keen mountain bikers, this will be the biggest ride many of them have ever attempted.

As it is such a challenge, to give the riders the incentive and drive to push on, they have decided to use this opportunity to raise some money for a very worthy cause. The cause they are supporting on this ride is Talan’s Trust, when they will be raising money for the Chris Lucas Trust on behalf of the charity.

The Chris Lucas Trust helps children and young adults by Cancer research and aims to find a cure for Rhabdomyosarcoma cancer by world-class research. It is the UK’s leading Rhabdomyosarcoma cancer charity.

By setting this difficult challenge, Dept 26 hope that people will look to support their chosen cause by donating.

People are encouraged to give generously, as support will push the team to finish this significant challenge. Supportive wristbands are being sold, which can be purchased from Southfork, Bude, or any Dept 26 committee member or representative.

To find out more about Talan’s Trust, visit www.facebook.com/talansjourney. To show support and find out more about Dept 26’s challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dept26 or dept26.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-long-way-home-2017.html