More than 400 riders took to the roads over the weekend of 6 July as part of Sue Ryder’s iconic Ride for Ryder challenge. The event, sponsored by Cape Homes, has raised over £63,000 – with donations still coming in – for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham.
Cyclists from across Gloucestershire and beyond came together for the 37th annual Ride for Ryder Sportive, a much-loved fixture in the local community’s calendar.
Building from the phenomenal success of last year the 2025 event saw participants once again set off from Dean Close School in Cheltenham, tackling five scenic routes through the Cotswolds, ranging from 40km to 160km. Riders enjoyed breathtaking countryside views as they passed through villages such as Broadway, Chipping Campden, and Guiting Power.
Supported by over 100 volunteers, the day had fantastic atmosphere with cyclists of all abilities coming together to raise vital funds for Sue Ryder’s expert palliative care and bereavement support services. There were six refreshment stations along the way, sponsored by Gloucester based company Monatrix, where riders could refuel with some much-needed food and drink.
Mark Holland, Director for Cape Homes said: “We were delighted to sponsor Ride for Ryder again this year and have a team take part in the challenge. Sue Ryder’s compassionate care has personally touched my life, supporting three close friends over the past few years. Taking part in this event is our way of giving back, and we’re incredibly proud to contribute to such an important cause.”
Matt Reay, Community Fundraising Manager for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: “Ride for Ryder 2025 has been another runaway success. It was incredible to see so many cyclists coming together to support Sue Ryder. The generosity of our riders and supporters continues to amaze us, and the funds raised this year will help us provide expert palliative care and bereavement support for families across Gloucestershire.
“We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible, including our headline sponsor, Cape Homes, our refreshment station sponsor Monatrix, Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I for donating drinks to energise the riders, the mechanics who kept everyone rolling throughout the day and our wonderful army of volunteers.”
Mark Holland, Director for Cape Homes said: “We were delighted to sponsor Ride for Ryder again this year and have a team take part in the challenge. Sue Ryder’s compassionate care has personally touched my life, supporting three close friends over the past few years. Taking part in this event is our way of giving back, and we’re incredibly proud to contribute to such an important cause. We’re also thrilled to announce we’ll be back in the saddle continuing our support as headline sponsor for 2026 and can’t wait.”
Ride for Ryder 2026 sponsored by Cape Homes takes place on Sunday 12 July and starts and ends at Dean Close School in Cheltenham. There are five distances to choose from: 40km, 70km, 90km, 130km and 160km.
For more information and to secure your super early bird place visit www.sueryder.org/rideforryder
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About Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice:
At Sue Ryder, we can’t make life’s most difficult moments easy, but we can carry some of the load. For more than 70 years we have been a source of strength and support for anyone living with a life-limiting illness or grief.
Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone. Here at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice located just outside Cheltenham we provide a safe and reassuring hand for right across Gloucestershire to reach for.
From giving care and support for someone at the end of their life to helping someone manage their grief, we know there is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need. We campaign for everyone who is approaching the end of their life or grieving to have access to the right support, at the right time. And we seek to break down the barriers to talking about dying and grief – so we can all be better prepared and better equipped to be there for each other.
We can make a positive difference during even the darkest of times. Whether in the last months, weeks or days of life, or living with grief, we help people live the best life they possibly can. We are there when it matters.
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