A CYCLING event to celebrate and preserve some of North Wiltshire’s most extraordinary churches is taking place next month, with support from adventurer Bear Grylls.

Local people are being invited to explore the county’s churches and have some fun in the process with this year’s Ride+Stride event, held on Saturday, September 12.

The annual event is organised by Country Historic Churches Trusts and has been running since 1984. It has raised over £1million for the county’s churches since it started and continues to be well supported.

Bear Grylls, the famous adventurer and Chief Scout, is one of many Wiltshire residents supporting the event. He writes, “Many historic churches, chapels and meeting houses are battling to survive. Roofs leak, ancient timbers rot and medieval stonework crumbles.

“Now you can help by joining the Ride+Stride adventure, a sponsored bike ride or walk discovering beautiful churches, which also raises money for their repair and preservation.”

Felicity Pinder from Fovant is another local person giving Ride+Stride her support. She’ll be walking to take part in her sixth Ride+Stride this year.

“It’s a lovely day out in the countryside,” said Felicity. “We always go to seven churches and this year we’ll be walking the Nadder Valley, although we have walked as far as Coombe Bissett on previous trips.

“I love exploring our local history. Many of our footpaths were built so people could get to church and some of them have been walked on for many centuries.

“I also want to support the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust, which has helped us keep St George’s Church in the village in good repair.”

Nigel Murray from Enford always gathers a large group from the village to do the trip together by bike.

“We gather at All Saints’ Church in Enford at 10am and have a very civilised morning’s exercise,” he said.

“It’s a great way both to see the lovely Wiltshire countryside and the wonderful heritage we have in our churches.

“We always work up a great appetite, so we enjoy a ‘cycleman’s lunch’ at The Swan at Enford before we break up. This year, we’ll be visiting seven churches as far away as Bulford and Durrington.”

Charles Graham of the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust said: “Last year we raised almost £60,000 through Ride+Stride.

“Our Riders and Striders enjoy the day so much they come back year after year. They range in age from five years old to over ninety. There are prizes for the more competitive among them, including several for under 15s.”

The race takes place on Saturday, September 12, from 10am to 6pm. Participants may be cyclists, walkers, horse-riders or drivers of mobility scooters, and plan their route to visit as many churches as they like.

Sponsorship can be raised on a per church visit or overall race lump sum. Half of the money raised goes to the participants chosen church while the other half is donated to Country Historic Churches Trusts.

For more information on this year’s ride contact Mandy Dobson on 01666 824005 or by email via mandydobson21@hotmail.co.uk. Alternatively visit the website at wiltshirehistoricchurchestrust.org.uk/ride-and-stride.