THE fifth annual Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Challenge has raised a record amount of £21,500.

This year, 190 riders cycled 144 miles in two days in July around the Yorkshire Wolds cycle route, in aid of Ryedale Special Families.

Heading out from Norton College towards Pocklington, via Thixendale and Millington, the route then goes through Market Weighton and Beverley, before the overnight stop at Hutton Cranswick, for a barbecue and live music.

Sunday morning sees the cyclists set off through Driffield towards Bridlington, before heading west via Hunmanby, Foxholes and Sledmere, back to the finish in Norton.

The event has become a major fundraiser for the Malton-based charity, having now raised about £80,000 since it started, thanks to the efforts of hundreds of cyclists, and it helps Ryedale Special Families continue to care and support families and children with disabilities, illness or special needs.

Event organiser Rob Davies said: “The event just continues to go from strength to strength with the number of riders increasing each year.

"Of course, none of it would happen without the incredible support we get from an army of volunteer marshals, venues that support us around the route, and our fantastic sponsors to whom we’re indebted."

Rob said cyclists pay an initial £40 entry fee then commit to raising at least an additional £60 in sponsorship.

"We do everything we can to make the weekend a memorable one and hope to continue growing in a controlled way each year," he said.

“We’re grateful to our sponsors, including Bannisters’ Farm, a family farm based at Carnaby, whose traditionally baked potatoes helped re-energise the riders, Big Bear Bikes of Pickering who provided mechanical support, Escada Systems of Malton, Inntravel from Castle Howard and Wold Top Brewery.”

Rob said: "We are overwhelmed by the amount raised this year. It will help enormously towards our core costs, filling a continuous funding gap left by recent austerity cuts, and enabling us to continue the work we do supporting more than 400 families throughout Ryedale, who have children with disabilities, illness or additional needs.”