About the Rotary Dorset Bike Ride
The original Cancer Research Dorset Bike Ride started from Lulworth Castle on 2010 and attracted about 250 riders and was organised by volunteers for Cancer Research UK.
In 2011 the event was cancelled as there was nobody willing to organise it.
David King, a keen cyclists and member of the Rotary club of Wareham at the time, persuaded that Rotary club to take over the running of the Dorset Bike Ride on behalf of Cancer Research UK.
The first Rotary organised event in 2012 attracted 350 riders and raised £20,000. In 2013 the club increased the number of riders to 450 and raised £25,000. The success was down to the organisation as well as the help from Rotary members of the Wareham Club and other local Rotary Clubs.
In 2014 the club added a 75 and 100 mile route to the existing 10, 20, 30 and 50 mile routes and increased the number of participants to 650, raising just over £41,000, which was a big increase on previous years.
In 2015, there was a similar number of riders, but in 2016 the event attracted over 750 riders and raised over £54,000, further establishing the event as an important one in the Dorset cycling calendar.
In 2017 the Rotary Club of Westbourne took over the lead-club role, with David very much leading the organising of the event and training members of Westbourne Rotary so they could eventually take over the main organising role in the future to ensure that the event could continue.
In 2018 around 750 riders took part raising around a further £48,000 and when Westbourne Rotary fully took over the organisation of the event from David King - in their first year of being lead organisers, the event saw 524 riders taking part, raising around £30,000 for Cancer Research UK and other charities.
Sadly in 2020, we were all hit with a Worldwide Pandemic that changed everything and the planned Rotary Dorset Bike Ride in the September of that year had to be cancelled for reasons we will all be aware of.
In 2021, we returned to Longthorns Campsite near Wareham for the 2021 Rotary Dorset Bike Ride and, whilst number of entrants was halved, we still were able to donate a further £8,000 to CRUK from the event which does not include any donations made directly to CRUK from the riders so we do hope that we will see all our lovely riders again at the 2022 Bike Ride to enable further donations this year.
In 2022, we again offered five route lengths and updated the gpx information for the routes with a link to strava, and Raynet also once again provided support throughout the routes and may be trialling a new app to track and record riders along the routes. Sadly registrations were lower than expected as result of the pandemic, but it is hoped that 2023 will be a bumper year.
The Rotary Dorset Bike Ride over the years has raised over £300,000 for Cancer Research UK and know that funds have been raised in support of other charities, but our support of Cancer Research UK is something we are rightly very proud of. We hope every rider will raise funds for Cancer Research UK, but equally we still want to hear about money raised for other causes by this event each year too. Riders who just want to take part in a great ride are equally welcomed by our enthusiastic volunteers and marshalls.
We'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped to organise the event over the years, to all the volunteers who marshal the route and of course to the enthusiasm and participation of all the riders who take part, as well as the owners and staff at Longthorns which sees the start and finish of the event.
We are very much looking forward to returning to Longthorns and continuing to grow the event and to support this amazing charity that helps so many people who are living with cancer, or who know someone affected by it.
If you do have any queries about the event - please see if they are answered on our FAQ page - or just contact us for assistance.
In 2011 the event was cancelled as there was nobody willing to organise it.
David King, a keen cyclists and member of the Rotary club of Wareham at the time, persuaded that Rotary club to take over the running of the Dorset Bike Ride on behalf of Cancer Research UK.
The first Rotary organised event in 2012 attracted 350 riders and raised £20,000. In 2013 the club increased the number of riders to 450 and raised £25,000. The success was down to the organisation as well as the help from Rotary members of the Wareham Club and other local Rotary Clubs.
In 2014 the club added a 75 and 100 mile route to the existing 10, 20, 30 and 50 mile routes and increased the number of participants to 650, raising just over £41,000, which was a big increase on previous years.
In 2015, there was a similar number of riders, but in 2016 the event attracted over 750 riders and raised over £54,000, further establishing the event as an important one in the Dorset cycling calendar.
In 2017 the Rotary Club of Westbourne took over the lead-club role, with David very much leading the organising of the event and training members of Westbourne Rotary so they could eventually take over the main organising role in the future to ensure that the event could continue.
In 2018 around 750 riders took part raising around a further £48,000 and when Westbourne Rotary fully took over the organisation of the event from David King - in their first year of being lead organisers, the event saw 524 riders taking part, raising around £30,000 for Cancer Research UK and other charities.
Sadly in 2020, we were all hit with a Worldwide Pandemic that changed everything and the planned Rotary Dorset Bike Ride in the September of that year had to be cancelled for reasons we will all be aware of.
In 2021, we returned to Longthorns Campsite near Wareham for the 2021 Rotary Dorset Bike Ride and, whilst number of entrants was halved, we still were able to donate a further £8,000 to CRUK from the event which does not include any donations made directly to CRUK from the riders so we do hope that we will see all our lovely riders again at the 2022 Bike Ride to enable further donations this year.
In 2022, we again offered five route lengths and updated the gpx information for the routes with a link to strava, and Raynet also once again provided support throughout the routes and may be trialling a new app to track and record riders along the routes. Sadly registrations were lower than expected as result of the pandemic, but it is hoped that 2023 will be a bumper year.
The Rotary Dorset Bike Ride over the years has raised over £300,000 for Cancer Research UK and know that funds have been raised in support of other charities, but our support of Cancer Research UK is something we are rightly very proud of. We hope every rider will raise funds for Cancer Research UK, but equally we still want to hear about money raised for other causes by this event each year too. Riders who just want to take part in a great ride are equally welcomed by our enthusiastic volunteers and marshalls.
We'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped to organise the event over the years, to all the volunteers who marshal the route and of course to the enthusiasm and participation of all the riders who take part, as well as the owners and staff at Longthorns which sees the start and finish of the event.
We are very much looking forward to returning to Longthorns and continuing to grow the event and to support this amazing charity that helps so many people who are living with cancer, or who know someone affected by it.
If you do have any queries about the event - please see if they are answered on our FAQ page - or just contact us for assistance.
RegisterTake on the Rotary Dorset Bike Ride and raise money to beat cancer!
This fun event is perfect for all the family so register to take part today. |
Cycle JerseyYou can buy a Rotary Dorset Bike Ride Cycle jersey for just £45 each. Why not order when you register to ride or now by clicking below.
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Become a SponsorThe Rotary Dorset Bike ride has already raised over £300,000 for Cancer Research UK since it started. With your support, along with others we hope to substantial increase this total.
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