Thanks to Natasha for sharing news of this exciting new event. Ed
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust in partnership with GP Sport are bringing a new & exciting mountain bike and trail running event to Isle of Wight ‘The Red Funnel Night Rider and Night Runner’.
Taking place from Cheverton Farm on the Isle of Wight in April 2016, both the Night Rider mountain biking and Night Runner trail running are non-timed checkpoint based events. Entry is open to all with courses to suit every ability.
Ride or run through the night
Participants can enter and run or ride through the night, choosing from 5km – 20km distances for runners, and 5km – 35km for the mountain bikers, with an after party at the finish line to swap stories of their moonlight adventures.
The event will be managed by Isle of Wight based trail experts GP Sport. Participants from all over the UK are encouraged to join with easy transport connections available from Southampton to the Isle of Wight through Red Funnel and bus links on to the event. Camping is available on the event site after an evening’s entertainment with live music, food and drink available until late.
A challenging endurance event with a fun twist
Frank Fletcher CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust commented,
“The Red Funnel Night Rider and Night Runner has only been made possible by the support of title partner Red Funnel. Their support means that all the entry fees will help us directly support young people in recovery from cancer and help rebuild their confidence.
“It is important with any sporting event that experts are involved therefore we have partnered with ‘GP Sport’ who run numerous off-road biking and trail running events each year on the Isle of Wight.
“It will be a challenging endurance event with a fun twist, so there are lots of parallels with the sailing activities we run for young people. We will definitely be entering a team!”
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, a national organisation set up 12 years ago by internationally renowned yachtswomen Ellen MacArthur, gives young people in recovery from cancer the opportunity to take part in sailing trips to rebuild their confidence.
The majority of the young people who sail with the Trust for the first time have finished treatment and are in the very difficult process of trying to put their lives back together.
Those aged 8-17 are invited back to continue to sail with the Trust until their 18th birthday, and encouraged to return to sail at least once between the ages of 18-24. After this, many will continue sailing with the Trust as Volunteers by going through the Graduate Volunteer programme.
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust works with every young person Principal Treatment Centre in the UK and to date has enabled over 1,500 young people to take part in sailing trips. The Trust receives no government funding and therefore relies entirely on voluntary donations to provide sailing trips free of charge to the young people.
More info
For more information and entry details of the Night Rider and Night Runner events visit
Night Rider Website
Night Runner Website
Facebook Page
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