As the Tour de France began speeding through the country this weekend, Alice Sharman looked at five charities which embrace the nation's love of cycling as part of their fundraising campaigns.
1. British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation really understands the power of two wheels with 30 cycling events on its fundraising calendar. BHF’s annual London to Brighton bike ride, of which 28,000 cyclists participate in every year, is currently the largest cycling mass participation event in the UK.
More than half of the charity's events involve cycling. The entire events programme brings in about £10m a year for BHF.
Its London to Brighton Night Ride takes place next weekend. For more information click here.
2. Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research
Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research holds its Bikeathon events around the country every year. The events raise funds to help change the lives of blood cancer patients and to raise awareness of blood cancer.
Cycling and sports make up 20 per cent of its total income and the charity has been running its Bikeathon model for nearly 20 years.
At the end of August 7,000 cyclists will take part in its London Bikeathon, while in September the Bikeathon goes to Birmingham for the first time. Read more here.
3. Bliss
The special care baby charity Bliss is the first Prudential RideLondon charity of the year. The annual two-day festival of cycling, a legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games, includes a 100-mile closed-road challenge through London and Surrey along some of the same route used during the Olympics.
Bliss has been supporting babies and their families for 35 years and is dedicated to ensuring all babies born too soon, small or sick in the UK have the best chace of survival.
The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 takes place on Sunday August 10, starting in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and finishing on The Mall in central London. For more information click here.
4. Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust is holding its largest mass participation fundraising event, Palace to Palace. The 45-mile race starts at Buckingham Palace, ending at Windsor Castle.
For the first time the charity is launching its Palace to Palace Ultra event this year which is double the length of its flagship cycle ride. See here for more information.
5. Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care is the official charity partner to the Tour de France Grand Depart and is collecting money along the route from spectators. See here for more information.
