Tim Bresnan joins PCA bike ride to Lord’s

Bears all-rounder Tim Bresnan was one of 47 riders who conquered the Headingley to Lord’s bike ride challenge last weekend.

The gruelling challenge saw 435km covered in the space of three days as fundraisers passed through Lincoln and Cambridge on their journey between two of the country’s most storied cricket grounds.

Bresnan was joined by former England stars, Joe Denly and Ryan Sidebottom, with the ride made up of past and present professional cricketers, sponsors, PCA partners and PCA staff, who all generously gave up their time at the end of a long 2021 season to raise money for those most in need of the Trust’s support.

Soon after riders passed through the famous Grace Gate at the Home of Cricket on Sunday afternoon, the ambitious fundraising target of £75,000 was passed.

A special mention must go to PCA Chair and Trust Director James Harris, who not only cycled from his Cardiff home to the start line at Headingley ahead of the challenge, but also covered the 268km from London to south Wales via Oxford the day after the group arrived back at Lord’s.

In total, Harris covered over 1,000km during his mammoth round trip, which took place over six days rather than three – a simply staggering effort in aid of the Trust.

The Headingley to Lord’s bike ride was the Trust’s first major physical fundraising challenge since the Three Peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon were summitted in 2019.

Generously sponsored by BGC Partners, Halford’s, Le Col and Applied Nutrition, it was the players’ charity’s first cycling event since Big Bike Ride 3, which ran between Edgbaston Stadium and Sophia Gardens in November 2017.

The £75,000 and counting raised provides a welcome boost for the Trust after the charity suffered an estimated fundraising shortfall of £140,000 in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All funds raised will go towards helping the charity continue its life-changing work on behalf of PCA members and their immediate families. Support offered by the Trust can include but is not limited to: mental health counselling, advice in difficult situations and the provision of specialist medical equipment.

“It is vital that past and present professional cricketers continue to have access to the range of support offered by the Trust, and that is why events like this are so important,” said Chief Executive and Trust Director Rob Lynch.

“As I lined up on the start line, it was inspiring to see such a large group of people, including many PCA members, giving up their time to support the amazing work of our charity, and I would like to thank everyone involved for doing so.”