Prior’s Court workers trains for 24-hour charity bike ride

A charity worker has set himself a 24-hour cycle challenge to raise £10,000 for a unique performing arts centre, currently under construction.

Mark Bailey, director of operations at Chieveley autism charity Prior’s Court, will be cycling for 24 hours from 4pm on Wednesday, March 6 around the court’s 0.6km circular track.

Mr Bailey has been training for the past three months to prepare for the challenge — and expects to cover a distance of around 140 miles.

“This challenge looks a lot closer this side of Christmas, that’s for sure,” he said. “And being told I’m likely to be travelling the equivalent of Prior’s Court to Dover/Exeter was also quite an eye-opening fact.”

He will be using a tricycle, one of the preferred modes of transport for many of the young people the charity supports.

And to make the challenge even harder, Mr Bailey’s bi-hourly breaks will not just be for rest.

He will be completing mini performing arts-related tasks, including learning to DJ.

He added: “Building work has begun on the arts centre, but we still have an ongoing fundraising appeal, with this challenge being a part of that.”

His training has featured activities on-site to get as many young people involved as possible, including a hide-and-seek challenge and a cycling-based treasure hunt.

Please visit https://justgiving.com/page/onyourmarks to support Mr Bailey’s challenge.