Participants in Rutland's Ride and Stride 2019 recognised for their efforts raising £20,000 during awards ceremony at Barnsdale Lodge
Those that had ridden or strode to help Rutland’s historic churches were recognised for their efforts at an awards ceremony on Friday (February 14).
The ceremony, marking those who had taken part in the 2019 Ride and Stride, was held at Barnsdale Lodge, but the biggest winner of the evening was the Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust and the 45 churches sponsored by riders and striders, who raised £20,200 on the day.
The funds will be used to help maintain and preserve any of Rutland’s churches and places of worship in need of structural repairs.
The Davenport-Handley silver cup was presented by the trust’s president, Sir Laurence Howard, to Tom Case, of Hambleton who cycled to 52 churches; and the Barnsdale Lodge walking prize was presented to Beverley Hancock of Thistleton who walked to 18 churches.
Peter Lawson, chairman of the trust, thanked the 400 participants who cycled or walked or manned Rutland’s churches.
All 64 churches were open for the event, a tradition that marks Rutland out during this nationwide event.
Mr Lawson thanked the High Sheriff Margaret Miles and her husband Robert who who cycled for nearly 10 hours around the perimeter of Rutland, visiting 23 churches. Along the way they met many people and amongst these, Mr Lawson highlighted Rutland Radio presenter Rob Persani who covered the event whilst accompanying the High Sheriff for much of her journey.
In 2019, the Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust made grants totalling £35,000 to eight churches in addition to sharing with the sponsored churches the Ride and Stride funds raised.
