22 Dec 2016
Prudential RideLondon raises more than £41 million in the first four years
- More than £12 million raised in 2016
- A total of 26,770 riders completed the 2016 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100
- A further 2,724 riders finished the new 46-mile challenge, held for the first time this year
The organisers of Prudential RideLondon announced today (22 December) that cyclists have raised more than £41 million for charity over the first four years of the world’s greatest festival of cycling. This year riders in the festival raised more than £12 million for charity, equalling the record set in 2015.
Macmillan and Prostate Cancer UK were two of many charities that raised six-figure sums and both are already hard at work planning fundraising for the 2017 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey events.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Huge thanks must go to the tens of thousands of cyclists whose superhuman efforts at Prudential RideLondon have helped raise a phenomenal amount of money for good causes. I hope we will be able to raise many millions more for charity at Prudential RideLondon 2017.
“Prudential RideLondon is not just the greatest mass-participation cycling event in the world, it’s also a hugely successful charity weekend that raises millions of pounds for good causes. I congratulate everyone who helped to make it another record-breaking year and I look forward to seeing cyclists of all ages and abilities take to the capital’s streets again in 2017.”
Richard Walsh, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Localities and Community Wellbeing, said: “This tremendous sum raised for good causes across the country underlines the legacy of the Prudential RideLondon events, which we’re looking forward to welcoming to Surrey again next summer. It takes the total raised since the inaugural event in 2013 to more than £41 million and I’d like to thank all the riders who have contributed to this huge amount for their amazing fundraising efforts.”
At the inaugural event 16,000 riders raised more than £7 million and in 2014 the 20,709 finishers battled through heavy rain and wind on a shortened route to break the £10 million barrier. In 2015, 25,564 finishers raised more than £12 million, setting a new fundraising record for a cycling event in Europe.
Alex Hill, Challenge Events Programme Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “In 2016 we saw more than 450 Team Macmillan riders don a green jersey and take on either the 46 or 100 mile ride in Prudential RideLondon, raising almost £400,000. I’d like to say a huge thank you to each and every rider who contributed to this amazing total, helping us ensure that we can keep providing our vital service so no one has to face cancer alone.”
A team of 529 riders raised £400,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. James Beeby, Director of Fundraising, said: “We’re incredibly proud that our team of remarkable riders raised vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK. The money raised by each and every rider will fund ground-breaking research to help fight the disease and help us provide dedicated support and information to men and their families affected by prostate cancer.”
Mike Wells, Group Chief Executive of Prudential, said: “This is a formidable effort by all those who took part. In its short history Prudential RideLondon has already established itself not only as the world’s greatest celebration of cycling, but also as one of the nation’s most important charity fundraising events. Prudential looks forward to continuing its support of this inspiring festival and to setting the bar even higher in 2017.”
Event Director Hugh Brasher said: “After just four years, Prudential RideLondon has raised more than £41 million for charity and is firmly established as one of the most successful fundraising sports events in the world. We thank all the riders for their fundraising work and look forward to breaking more records in 2017.”
Entry for the 2017 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, which takes place on Sunday 30 July 2017, is now open at www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Prudential RideLondon is the world’s greatest festival of cycling with more than 100,000 riders expected to participate in seven different events for all ages and abilities over the weekend of 28-30 July 2017.
- The 2017 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic has been awarded UCI WorldTour status and will be the first men’s WorldTour race ever staged in the UK. The women’s pro race, the Prudential RideLondon Classique, is part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour for the second successive year and these two races are the richest one day races on the pro cycling calendar. Find out more at www.prudentialriderondon.co.uk
- Prudential RideLondon was developed by the Mayor of London, Transport for London and London & Partners in partnership with Surrey County Council and is sponsored by Prudential. The event is managed by the London & Surrey Cycling Partnership.
Prudential RideLondon has won a total of 11 major awards to date:
- European Sport Tourism Event of the Year (2014)
- London Cycling Awards Event of the Year (2014)
- BT Sport Industry Awards: Participation Event of the Year (2013 and 2014)
- UK Event Awards: Large Event of the Year (2013) and Sports Event of the Year (2013 and 2014)
- 2013 Cyclosport Industry Award, given for an outstanding contribution to the cycling industry
- Most Innovative Cycling Event and Favourite British Cyclo-Sportive in the Cycling Weekly readers’ annual poll
- UK Cycling Event of the Year in the Total Women’s Cycling readers’ awards
For further information, please contact:
Penny Dain | Head of Communications | Prudential RideLondon
penny.dain@londonmarathonevents.co.uk | 07799 170433
Visit: www.PrudentialRideLondon.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter @RideLondon and on Facebook /RideLondon