Ark riders are a team of dedicated people who are riding from Basingstoke to Paris to raise money and awareness for The Ark Cancer Charity.

In July 2016 they completed their first ride of 985 miles and raised £51,000 for the charity. This year they are getting back on their bikes and doing the ride again.

All of the money raised this year will be split between two charities – The Arc Cancer Centre and Bike 4 Cancer.

The Arc Cancer Charity

The Arc Cancer Charity are raising money for a new much-needed cancer centre in North Hampshire. They will offer a range of support services and complementary therapies along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments all in one local cancer centre.

Bike 4 Cancer

Bike 4 Cancer are a charity that provide relief from the difficulties of living with cancer. They provide days out and short breaks for British families affected by cancer. They also make grants to UK care institution and support research in to the positive effects of exercise and how it can prevent and assist in the recovery of cancer.

Beaufort’s very own Mark Dolby, Andy Coles and Ashley Hull will be joining the Ark riders in July 2017.

Mark Dolby

On 13th November 2015 my life changed forever. My Dad lost his battle against cancer in St Michael’s Hospice in the very room my Mum had died 10 years before.

I had joined the millions of people out there who’d lost loved ones to this evil disease, taking away a Mum‚Ķ Dad‚Ķ Granddad‚Ķ Brother‚Ķ Sister‚Ķ Auntie‚Ķ Uncle‚Ķ Friend.

Since my Mum passed away, I’ve been determined to do all I can to help raise money and awareness of Cancer and the damage it causes. I’ve jumped out of planes and run half marathons but by far the best thing I have done so far was being part of the JOGLE 16 team last year. We had such an amazing bunch of people and a real camaraderie, with all of us pulling each other along.

So, as soon as we were finished I immediately thought what next and the Ark to Arc was on!

I can’t wait to get started and hope to make more memories that will last a lifetime, as well as getting to put my lycra back on! Let’s make a difference and get this thing built!

Andy Coles

Joggle 16 was such a great experience, for someone who had no idea of what was involved and had never owned a ‘proper’ bike and even less of an idea how to change a puncture it was going to be a challengeand it certainly turned out that way.

However, it was so much more than I expected. The spirit, the camaraderie and sense of achievement at the end was wonderful, but that was me done – money raised, now to get back to normal life.

It was only on the way home from Land’s End that I really appreciated what a massive task of raising the money was going to be with Mark Jones explaining just how much more was needed and, more importantly, how much the Ark Cancer Centre was needed. It was at that point I know I would get involved again with The Ark Charity again.

So when I was asked by Arkriders about join Ark to Arc the conversation went:

Wine – tick
Cheese – tick
One night in Paris – tick
Less hills then Cornwall – double tick

Where do I sign!

So please give generously to a very worthy of cause

Ashley Hull

I am one of those people that like to challenge themselves, so what better way to do so – promoting and helping a worthy cause which can benefit so many peoples’ lives!

Find out more here: www.arkriders.co.uk/charity/