THERE are still spaces available for an annual charity bike ride coming to Andover this month.

For the seventh year, the Salisbury & District ​Samaritans are organising their charity Cycle Sportive on Saturday, August 20.

SAMS Ride will start and finish at a new location this year, in the beautiful grounds of Farleigh School, Red Rice, Andover.

Entries are still being taken at samsride.co.uk. It is also possible to enter on the day.

All bicycles are welcome. There is a choice of three routes – 25 miles for the sensible, 50 miles for the sporty and 100 miles for the serious.

Full routes can be found on the website. Entry starts from £30 per rider, which includes lunch, mechanical and medical support and organised feed stations. There are discounts for under-25s and British Cycling members. Additional fundraising by individual entrants is always welcome.

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Organiser Harry Lodge said: “Over the years, SAMS Rides have been tremendously successful. On the journey so far, almost £150,000 of vital funds have been raised, helping to keep the local branch of the Samaritans open. What the rides are known for, however, are their friendliness, spectacular scenery and delicious homemade cakes. If you join us, we hope you won’t be disappointed.”

Samaritan branches are charities run entirely by volunteers to support those in need of emotional support. They provide this by phone, text, email and in face-to-face meetings. The Salisbury & District Samaritans cover a geographical area including Andover, Salisbury and Warminster, the area covered by the bike ride. It costs £70,000 per year to run the branch, and volunteers need to raise much of the funding themselves to keep the service running and to recruit new volunteers.

For more information contact: halosports@hotmail.co.uk.

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