Mayor's Son Set For 500 Mile Cycle Ride To Support Local Charities

Some people go the extra mile when it comes to fundraising, and in support of the Mayor’s Charity Fund, Matt Smith, son of Great Yarmouth Mayor, Tony, is set to go nearly an extra 500.

Joined by four friends, Matt, 31, is to set off on his bike from Land’s End in Cornwall on Saturday April 10 and approaching 500 miles later will reach the Ocean Rooms in Gorleston on Saturday April 17 - the day of the Civic Ball, which marks the culmination of the Mayor’s year in office.

Great Yarmouth residents and businesses are being encouraged to sponsor Matt and friends at www.mayorscharitybikeride.co.uk – with all donations going towards the Mayor’s Charity Fund, with the 2009/10 chosen charities being - St Nicholas Preservation Trust, Kingfisher Boxing Club and Winterton Marine Cadets.

Where there is one, the Mayor of each respective location at the end of each day’s ride will meet the group to mark the progress they are making.

The route that Matt and friends will take, is:

• Saturday April 10 – Land’s End to Hayle

• Sunday April 11 – Hayle to Tintagel

• Monday April 12 – Tintagel to Tiverton

• Tuesday April 13 – Tiverton to Chippenham

• Wednesday April 14 – Chippenham to Thame

• Thursday April 15 – Thame to Saffron Walden

• Friday April 16 – Saffron Walden to Lowestoft

• Saturday April 17 – Lowestoft to Gorleston

Matt Smith, said: “My dad has spent his year as Mayor passionately supporting the Borough of Great Yarmouth and doing some great work for his chosen charities.

I too wanted to be able to support him and his chosen causes and the cycle ride will allow me to do this.  I’ve completed the cycling element of the London Triathlon at 26 miles in length, but this ride is much longer and will certainly take some endurance to get back on the bike day after day.

“The Civic Ball is the biggest fundraising event of the year and it would be great if local people and businesses show their support by buying a ticket for the event, or by sponsoring the cycle ride.”

The Ball will be held at the Ocean Rooms on the evening of Saturday April 17 (7.15pm for an 8pm start), with tickets, priced at £35, available by contacting Laura Goodman, Mayoral and Civic Events Officer, at: lauragoodman@great-yarmouth.gov.uk, or by calling 01493 846125.

A raft of entertainment will be on offer for those attending – including BBC Radio Norfolk’s David Clayton returning to the Ocean Rooms – a venue that launched his DJ career. The Right Stuff will also be providing live music.

Great Yarmouth Mayor, Tony Smith, said: “It has been a huge honour to be the Mayor of the town in which I was born and I feel that we have made a real difference this year for the charities that I chose to back.

“The Civic Ball gives me a chance to have a real final push at raising more donations for those charities and I’m so proud that Matt and friends have decided to help us by undertaking this challenging cycle ride.

“I hope that the community of the borough of Great Yarmouth lend them their support and also buy tickets for the event – where the ride will finish, having set off from Cornwall a week before.”

Residents will also be encouraged to join the group for the final leg of the ride from Lowestoft to Gorleston.  More details will follow in due course