The Rotary Ride has previously not had a big take up in our District, so following the new strap line of "Thinking Differently" I have come up with the idea of having two District Champions to represent those clubs who are not engaging with the Rotary Ride themselves.


My Dad had prostate cancer so I have a personal connection with the disease and with our ageing population I think that all men should consider contributing towards research into tackling prostate cancer. We may all become victims to this cancer.


My son Daniel and his friend Gareth Prendergast are in training on their bicycles prior to travelling to Majorca in April to undertake a famous mountain road ride called "Sa Calobra" , I would like to appeal to those Rotary Clubs who are not going to hold a Rotary Ride event themselves to sponsor Dan and Gaz.


This has been authorised by District Governor Eric. It is important that we do not discourage any of our clubs from organising their own Rotary Rides if that is what they wish to do. Dan and Gaz are hopefully representing the other clubs and gives them an opportunity to participate in our Districts efforts to the Rotary Ride by supporting them as District "Champions"


Firstly full guidance of how to organise a Rotary Ride event is available on the R.I.B.I. website under "ROTARY RIDE 2018".


To support our district champions clubs should visit Gaz and Dan's "JUST GIVING" website, where they will find more details about the challenge the two men are undertaking.


I have sought guidance from Alcester on the best way to collect donations in for this initiative and was advised to use "Just Giving" as a tool it wil collect the donations , provide the mechanism for claiming Gift Aid, move the donations on to Prostate U.K. and provide us with a total that we can record on Rotary Central.


I am the District lead for the Rotary Ride so I want clubs to contact me if they are organising their own events so that I can help them with any queries they may have about their event and collate the details of what they are doing.


Tony Beckett