Team Connor Sportive this Sunday [September 16] will consist of three different routes which are designed to cater for all levels of cycling ability.
All proceeds will go towards support research and enhanced therapy.
Chasing Connor’s Cure was set up by Matt Crawford after his son Connor was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, called Duchenne, soon after his fourth birthday in 2016.
The charity, based in Hildenborough, has held the Duchenne Dash, a 24-hour bike ride from London to Paris, for the past six years. In June, the last marathon challenge raised £850,000.
Looking closer to home, and starting at Tonbridge Old Fire Station, the latest event offers distances of 13.5, 40 and 60 miles through rural Kent.
The shorter, ‘family friendly’ route heads along the cycle path to Hildenborough before turning left towards Leigh and on to Penshurst. After refreshments, riders climb out of the village to take in fine views before descending back to the river valley and rejoining the path in Haysden Country Park.
Challenge 40 goes up to Shipbourne, Ivy Hatch and Stone Street, then along to Godden Green, before a steep descent down Carter’s Hill into Underriver and on to Charcott. The route climbs past Bough Beech reservoir to a feed station at Ide Hill, then past Emmetts Gardens to climb Toy’s Hill.
A steep descent leads to Four Elms and Hever, then back to Tonbridge through the villages of Mark Beech, Chiddingstone Hoath, Penshurst and Leigh.
The Epic 60 follows the same route to Underriver but then heads off to Sevenoaks Weald and climbs Hubbard’s Hill.
The steep descent of Bayley’s Hill takes riders past Bore Place before climbing past Bough Beech, Ide Hill and Toy’s Hill from the north side.
After Four Elms and Hever, the elite riders will go to Ashdown Forest and the top of Chuck Hatch, returning via Groombridge and Speldhurst.
Duchenne affects one in 3,500 boys in the UK. It attacks muscles, and in most cases mobility is lost around the age of ten. Eventually, it will attack the heart and lungs, resulting in premature loss of life – usually in the early 20s.
There is no known cure, but researchers are confident that a breakthrough can be made and funds are vital to accelerate development.
Email info@teamconnorsportive.com to enter the event. For more information about the charity, visit chasingconnorscure.co.uk
PICTURE: TOP TEAM: Matt and Emma Crawford with their children (l-r) George, Esmie, Connor and Harrison
