139 cyclists took to the roads of Staffordshire.
The 2026 Ride Lichfield Sportive has raised more than £3,000 for charity, taking the event’s total fundraising since its launch in 2018 to more than £15,000!
On Sunday 28 June, 139 cyclists took to the roads of Staffordshire, riding one of two picturesque routes in aid of Lichfield Re:Cycle and Children with Cancer UK.
Now in its fifth year, Ride Lichfield Sportive has become a much-loved community event, combining accessible cycling with fundraising for local and national charities.
The Sportive is organised by a group of volunteers from Lichfield Re:Cycle – a confidence-building and bike recycling charity that helps local people overcome barriers to cycling by repairing donated bikes before providing them on free long-term loan to people who need them for transport or to improve their health and wellbeing.
To remove any cost barrier to participation, the Sportive offers riders the option of free entry – or they can donate what they feel to join the ride.
Ian Covey, a Lichfield Re:Cycle trustee, said:
Given that riders could be here for nothing, we’re incredibly grateful for every donation. It’s Lichfield at its best, people enjoying a day on their bikes while helping others. The money raised for Lichfield Re:Cycle will enable us to continue helping people across the city for another 12 months.
Central to the charity’s work is promoting the positive impact cycling can have on your health and wellbeing.
Cycling is one of the most accessible ways people can become more active. Whether someone rides five miles or fifty, every ride is an investment in their long-term health.
And being out on your bike, especially a group event like the Sportive, is a great way to boost your mood, reduce stress and make you feel more connected to your local community.
For the third year in a row, half the money raised has been donated to Children with Cancer UK – in memory of the son of one of the Sportive’s organisers, who died of a brain tumour at the age of six.
The donation to Children with Cancer UK is an important reminder that all of us in Lichfield are part of something bigger. We’re proud that the Sportive lets riders look beyond their own achievement, turning every mile ridden into an act of generosity for children and families facing cancer.
Planning is already underway for Ride Lichfield Sportive 2027, with organisers hoping to welcome even more riders while continuing to make cycling accessible and support local and national charities.