Ealing's Nightriding Reverend

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Charity cycle ride to raise funds for Uganda

An Ealing vicar is about to take part in a 100-kilometre all-night cycle ride around London to raise funds for a local charity.

Reverend Peter Mackenzie of St John’s Church, West Ealing, is one of an intrepid team of cyclists taking part in the ride to support Uganda Development Services (UDS), based at the Lido Centre in Mattock Lane.

UDS provides computer training, literacy aids and support for subsistence farmers to improve their livelihoods. Their work focuses around Kamuli, in rural Eastern Uganda.

Nightrider will see 3,000 cyclists from a number of charities undertake one of the UK’s most exciting sporting charity challenges.

On the night of Saturday 9th-Sunday 10th June they will don their helmets and hi-viz jackets to pedal a 100-kilometre route around London, taking in the famous sights, the empty city streets, and some serious hills.

Reverend Mackenzie has been training for months. Asked whether he’d ever done anything like this before, he said: “First time for me. I did quite a bit of cycling when I was younger, but not much for years.”

This will be the third annual Nightrider, and this year UDS has 29 participants. UDS is just one of 250 charitable causes raising money on the night.

There are two start/finish points – one at Alexandra Palace in the north, the other down south at Crystal Palace. Staggered starts run from 11 pm to 01.35 am.

The route follows two huge loops round north and south London, and takes in some 50 famous landmarks, including Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Canary Wharf, the Houses of Parliament and the Albert Hall, as well as the West End and the City. It also presents some formidable climbs at Tulse Hill, Muswell Hill and Hampstead..and some exhilarating descents. Most riders complete the route in 6 – 8 hours.

It’s a unique way to see London. And it goes right through the night.

Asked what he was looking forward to most, Reverend Mckenzie said: “ I’m tempted to say 'the downhill sections' but I am really looking forward to enjoying this magnificent city lit up at night and especially going over the iconic Tower Bridge.”
Last year, with 15 riders, UDS raised over £10,000 for its work in Uganda. This year they are hoping to reach £15,000.

Reverend Mackenzie knows the ride will be tough, especially the final hill at Crystal Palace, but says it’s all in a good cause: “I am doing this to raise money and awareness for the wonderful work of Uganda Development Services in dramatically improving the lives of some seriously disadvantaged people. It is about helping others to help themselves out of poverty. If my small efforts go some way to helping people gain the education and employment opportunities that we often take for granted, then it will all have been worth it.”

He won’t be taking the ten o’clock service at St John’s on the Sunday morning though – he’s asked a deputy to do that.

 

7th June 2012